Week 4, Pan Fire
Here are the first two takes of Friday’s story along with my answers. Then there’s the third take that we didn’t have time to do. I’ve held back my Take 3 story but will send it to you when I’ve marked your version. Thanks, Ron
PAN FIRE TAKE 1
GILLCHESTER FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PRESS RELEASE
issued today for immediate publication
Gillchester Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning today after a young man suffered burns when he tried to put out a fire in his kitchen.
Divisional Officer Stan Johnson, the officer in command of Gillchester Fire Station, said: “He made the mistake of throwing water on to a pan of burning fat. This just caused the fat to explode in front of him and spread the fire.
“The proper way to deal with a pan fire is to put a damp tea towel or towel over it, move out of the room, shut the door and call the fire service.”
One person was taken to hospital after the fire in Dock Road, Gillchester, at 21.10 yesterday.
Divisional Officer Johnson added: “Doing the right thing can save a great deal of trouble and pain.”
ENDS
Write about 70 words for GillchesterOnline
Write a headline of up to 20 words (use SEO – search engine optimisation)
Write a Tweet @GillchesterGuardian. Link to your GillchesterOnline story.
Take 1 story
My Take 1 story
A fire chief told today how a man caused an explosion by throwing water on to a pan of burning fat.
The man was being treated for burns in Gillchester District Hospital after the kitchen fire in Dock Road, Gillchester, last night.
Stan Johnson, Gillchester’s Divisional Fire Officer, said putting water on burning fat was dangerous.
His advice: Cover the pan with a damp towel, leave the room and call the fire service. 73
Alternative intros
A fire chief issued a warning today after a man was burned trying to put out a fire his kitchen. (straight re-write of the press release)
A fire chief issued a warning today after a man was burned in an explosion in his kitchen.
A man was being treated for burns in hospital today after a fire in his kitchen last night.
A man was injured when a pan of burning fat exploded in front of him as he tackled a fire in his kitchen last night.
A man was in hospital today after choosing the wrong way to extinguish a pan of blazing fat - and caused an explosion.
A man was in hospital today after causing a blazing pan of fat to explode in his kitchen.
Headline
GILLCHESTER FIRE CHIEF’S EXPLOSION WARNING AFTER MAN IS BURNED IN DOCK ROAD KITCHEN BLAZE (14)
Tweet
Fire chief’s cooking fat warning after man is injured in Dock Road kitchen blaze, #Gillchester. >Link to story (120)
PAN FIRE TAKE 2
Stan Johnson tells you the injured man was Phillip Robinson, a student, and he was still in Gillchester District Hospital. Mr Johnson said:
“The lad was in a lot of pain with burns all over his hands and arms. Some of the burning oil even went into his hair.
He was cooking sausages in a frying pan that had lots of oil in it. He says he panicked when it caught light and threw water over it without thinking.
We sent one fire appliance. It was a first floor flat and our lads quickly went in and sorted things out. It was all over by half past nine. The kitchen was in a mess but most of it was smoke damage. It could have been worse.”
You get a Tweet from Jack Barker
@Barkingmad
Phils gonna be fine and so will the flat once we’ve cleared up. Fire guys were terrific.
Update your online story and, if necessary, the headline. Maximum 150 words.
My Take 2 story
A blazing frying pan “exploded” in a Gillchester flat, badly burning a student’s hands and arms last night.
Phillip Robinson was cooking sausages for supper in his Dock Road flat when the pan caught fire.
Divisional Fire Officer Stan Johnson said the teenager “made the mistake” of throwing water on to the pan which caused the burning fat to explode.
He said Mr Robinson admitted that he panicked and acted without thinking.
“He was in a lot of pain with burns all over his hands and arms. Some of the burning oil even went into his hair,” said Mr Johnson.
The fire chief said the safest way to deal with a frying pan fire was to cover it with a damp towel and call the fire service.
“Doing the right thing can save a great deal of trouble and pain,” he added. 144
Note: Nothing from @Barkingmad until you’ve checked it out. (See Take 3)
PAN FIRE, TAKE 3
A hospital spokesman says: “Mr Robinson is being treated for first and second degree burns to his hands, arms and neck and is in a satisfactory condition.”
You Tweet @Barkingmad and get to talk to Jack Barker. He shares the flat with Phillip Robinson and Gregory Jones. He tells you Phillip is 19 and he and Gregory are 20.
Mr Barker says:
I just wanted to say that the fire brigade and the paramedics did a tremendous job.
Poor Phillip was screaming in pain. He collapsed in the kitchen doorway and Greg and I couldn’t move him.
The worktop was on fire and the flames were spreading along the wall.
When the fire guys arrived they got us out of the way and put the fire out, just like that. Then the paramedics turned up and they were all so good with Phillip.
Two or three minutes earlier and we’d been terrified – then we were laughing and joking with the emergency services. They were fantastic.
Mind you, we’ve got a horrible mess to clear up. We never did get to eat our sausages.”
Use the all the information to update and improve your story for tomorrow’s edition of the Gillchester Guardian. The final version should be about 250 words. Write a headline of up to 10 words for the paper.