Essex fire chiefs are advising people to get a takeaway meal in a bid to reduce house blazes while firefighters take strike action.

Members of the Essex Fire Brigades Union are due to take industrial action tomorrow evening (Saturday) from 6.30-11.30pm as part of a national dispute over Government pension reforms.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) says more house fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else, so it is asking people to help reduce the likelihood of blazes breaking out by avoiding cooking while there are limited numbers of firefighters on duty.

Divisional officer Neil Fenwick said: “Cooking is a huge cause of fires – around a third of all house fires start in the kitchen, so by ordering a takeaway people can make a real difference and help us reduce the risk of fire.”

Mr Fenwick said this advice is even more important to people who are going out for a drink.

More than one in 10 kitchen fires start after 11pm as people arrive home after a night out.

He added: “Cooking after drinking is a recipe for disaster so our best advice is on your way home grab a kebab, murder a burger or hurry for a curry rather than try to cook when you get in.”

ECFRS says it has “strong resilience arrangements” in place to ensure fire cover is maintained across the county but the public can play a part by keeping risk to a minimum.

ECFRS added in a statement: “Fire engines crewed by Essex firefighters will be attending incidents and people should could continue to dial 999 as normal.

“But the service is urging people to do anything they can to help reduce risk in the county throughout the five-hour strike period.”