Mum’s terrifying fire warning after plastic steriliser sparks blaze on hob
A mum-of-two from Ashford is urging families to stay vigilant after a fire broke out in her kitchen — all thanks to a plastic baby bottle steriliser left on the hob.
Flames erupt while twins play nearby
Jo Townsend, 35, was playing with her seven-month-old twins, Maisie and Joshua, when she heard the smoke alarm blaring. At first, she thought it was triggered by steam from cooking. But panic set in when she spotted flames licking the plastic steriliser on the back burner.
“I had accidentally left a plastic baby bottle steriliser on the back hob and it caught fire,” said Jo. “I wanted to put it out myself but didn’t want to waste time with the twins in the next room, so I dialled 999 straight away. I was panicking and just wanted to keep my babies safe.”
Firefighters race to the rescue
Kent Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene at 4.39pm on Tuesday, 3 March. One fire engine and crews wearing breathing apparatus swooped in to douse the blaze with hose reel jets.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt. But the fire left Jo and husband Paul, 42, with a damaged kitchen and smoke-stained home.
Urgent safety warning from mum and firefighters
Jo admitted she felt “embarrassed” by the careless accident but praised the quick response from firefighters.
“They made me feel safe and said I reacted well,” she said. “We’ll definitely keep plastic and flammable items away from the hob from now on. We’ll also clear clutter from hallways and stairs — it’s so important to keep your home safe, especially when life’s so busy.”
Colin King, Area Manager at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, added:
“Mealtimes are busy and people often juggle tasks while cooking. Sadly, over half of all fires we attend start in the kitchen. To reduce risk, always keep an eye on your cooking, use a timer to avoid burning food, never place items on your cooker, and keep your appliances clean.”
Stay safe! Don’t leave plastic or any flammable objects near your hob – it could save your home, and your life.
