Fire chiefs have issued a stark warning after they were called to two cooking fires in the space of 15 minutes - one caused by a toaster left on top of a burning hob.
On Monday afternoon, crews responded to reports of a fire in a flat on Ramsden Road in Wardle, Rochdale.
The blaze is said to have started after someone left a toaster on top of an oven hob and then turned the hob on by mistake.
Thankfully, the people living there discovered the flames and managed to shut the kitchen door to stop it spreading.
Firefighters were on scene for an hour putting the fire out and getting rid of smoke.
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At 3.35pm- 13 minutes after the first call came in - crews were called to another kitchen fire in Mango Place, Salford.
When they arrived they found a fire involving a pan of food in the semi-detached property and spent another 50 minutes putting it out.
According to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, more than half of accidental fires in the home are caused by something to do with cooking.
The recent incidents - as well as a third one in Manchester on Monday night - have prompted service chiefs to issue a warning.
GMFRS head of Prevention, Damian O’Rourke, said: "Many of the incidents we attend start in the kitchen and I would urge all of our residents to take extra care when cooking.
"Fortunately nobody was injured at any of these incidents but they are a timely reminder of why being safe in the kitchen is so important.
"I would especially urge people to never leave cooking unattended, to take extra care when cooking with hot oil and to never leave children alone in the kitchen when the hob or oven is on."
For more kitchen safety advice, visit GMFRS's website.
