A mother has recalled the terrifying moment when her air fryer burst into flames after she noticed an unusual smell coming from the machine. Rebecca Sim, 52 was cooking bacon at her home in Prestwich with her one-year-old Tower machine when she picked up on a scent of burning plastic.
She luckily spotted a small flame at the bottom of the tray which quickly escalated into an inferno which she smothered with a wet tea towel and chucked the device outside, the Mirror reports. The shocking footage shows the raging flames erupting from the air fryer which Rebecca said 'could have burnt the kitchen down'.
The mother who had originally purchased the air fryer for her daughter at university fears what could have happened if it had been the student using it at the time who often leaves it unattended to wash her hair. Tower have since launched an investigation into the incident.
Rebecca who is a retired school teacher said: "So many people have now got air fryers, and so many of my friends have got one. They all say they often leave it cooking while they go and do something.
"It is very simple to use and it had been thoroughly cleaned, so I wasn't expecting it. It was a really nasty experience that could have been far far worse without my quick-thinking.
"I know that with the cost-of-living crisis many people are trying to reduce costs and have bought air fryers." The mother who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis explained: "When the bacon was nearly done I pulled out the tray to check it.
"It was splattering. I noticed the flickering and a plastic smell, so I knocked the switch off with a wooden spoon, unplugged it and smothered it with a damp tea towel.
"When I removed the tea towel I saw smoke and the beginnings of what looked like flames in the base of the fryer". Rebecca then threw the machine out the back door where it burst into flames and made a lot of noise.
The shocked mum-of-two added: "It could have burnt the kitchen down." A spokesperson on behalf of the air fryer company said the safety of its products 'is of the upmost importance'.
They stated: "The consumer involved contacted us on Wednesday (January 4) regarding her experience. Whilst we are pleased that Rebecca is OK we are reaching out to her seeking to obtain the Air Fryer so an investigation can be carried out.
"The safety of our products is of the up most importance to Tower and a thorough investigation will help us to understand the circumstances."
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