While warming up the grease to sauté your favorite vegetables, the doorbell rings. You left the kitchen to check who was at the front door. Unfortunately, grease starts to overheat and produces smoke, and when you return, it catches on fire! The first thing you do to stop the fire can either work for you or against you.

Across the United States, home fires occur every seven seconds. According to NFPA, unattended cooking was the most significant cause of cooking fires and casualties. So to prevent this from happening in your home, we’ll share a few safety tips on stopping a grease fire.

What is a grease fire?

A fire that can begin on top or in the stove as a result of cooking with grease is a grease fire. Anything that has grease such as oil or butter once becomes too hot, a grease fire happens. Most vegetable-based oils start smoking around 450°F. While animal fats have a smoke point around 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remember These Tips on How to Stop a Grease Fire

What you should do in case of a grease fire…

• Turn off the burner, stove, or grill immediately as they are heat sources, especially when you smell the oil or see smoke.
• Keep a metal pot lid near the counter for easy access if a fire starts. You can use this or any non-glass lid to cover the pot or pan. Try shutting the lid to extinguish a grease fire using a grill.
• Keep baking soda and salt where you can easily access them. If you fail to cover it, smother the fire with salt or baking soda to cut off the fire’s oxygen supply.
• Extinguish a grease fire with a fire extinguisher.

What you should not do in case of a grease fire…

• NEVER use or throw WATER on a grease fire to stop it. This will just spread the flames and make it hard to control.
• Don’t move the pan or pot while the oil burns to prevent the spread.
• NEVER use flour, baking powder, or sugar since they are combustible. They can do even more damage rather than helping smother the fire.
• Contact your local fire department via 911 as soon as you’re safe and if you cannot handle the situation.

Grease Fire Prevention Tips

• Don’t leave the pot/pan unattended, especially if it has grease.
• Be attentive, awake, and alert if you cook in the kitchen.
• Avoid placing inflammable items such as paper towels, potholders, or any wooden stuff in or near your countertops.
• Always clean up oil spills/grease and dirt in your burners and counters.
• Using a thermometer helps maintain the normal rate of the oil temperature. Determine the flash points and ignition temperature of the oil you’re using to prevent future fire-related damage.
• Thaw frozen food and eliminate moisture before you place it in hot oil to prevent grease fires. Slowly and gently put the food on a pan to prevent oil splattering.
• Turn off the heat immediately once the oil gets too hot and you see smoke.
• Putting on big clothes and wearing loose sleeves should be avoided. If your clothes are caught on fire, do these three things to put out the fire: STOP, DROP, and ROLL.
• Place the fire extinguisher where you can easily access it in your kitchen. Ensure beforehand that you have prepared a proper class extinguisher for grease use. And call 911 for an emergency.
• Children should stay or play outside your kitchen, especially when you are cooking.

Call Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Professionals

Have you recently experienced a grease fire break out in your kitchen and suffered damage in your home? Superior Flood and Fire has you covered. After firefighters stop the grease fire, a fire damage restoration company will help restore your home!

Contact us, Water Damage San Jacinto, to begin a safe and fast restoration of your home today! We are always ready and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We also offer emergency water damage restoration and mold remediation services.