How to Put Out a Grease Fire

Dealing with hot appliances and oils can lead to accidents like grease fires. These fires have specific characteristics such as fierce flames, dense smoke, a pungent smell, and popping and sizzling sounds. They happen when cooking oil or fats get too hot and ignite. When oil reaches its flashpoint — typically around 600 degrees Fahrenheit — it can catch fire.

Stopping a grease fire requires a different approach than other kinds of fires — learning how to put one out will help you stay calm and help ensure your safety and that of your home.

What Causes a Grease Fire?

Understanding how to stop a grease fire begins with knowing what causes these fires in the first place. Here are some of the most common factors:

• High temperatures: In addition to igniting when they reach their flash point, oils and fats can catch alight when heated beyond their smoke point. Common cooking oils such as vegetable oil, olive oil and even butter have relatively low flash and smoke points, making them prone to grease fires.
• Spills: Accidentally spilling oil or grease near heat sources, such as stovetops or the inside of an oven, can result in a potentially catastrophic chain of events. A grease fire can start when oil is left unattended on high heat and overheats in a pan or splatters onto the stove’s burner.
• Ignition sources: Close proximity to hot surfaces, pilot lights and open flames in cooking areas can provide the required spark, triggering a grease fire. Cookers are one of the most common causes of house fires, but other sources include heating, electrical systems, candles and dryers.

How to Put a Grease Fire Out

Unfortunately, accidents happen — hot cooking oil can be challenging, and sometimes fires are unavoidable. If you ever find yourself facing a grease fire in the kitchen, follow these steps to handle it as quickly and safely as possible:

• Stay calm and act fast: It can be scary to see flames suddenly erupt on the stove, but the first thing to remember is to stay calm. Take a deep breath and take action to prevent the fire from spreading.
• Turn off the heat:  When you notice a grease fire, turn off the stove’s heat source if you can safely reach the stove knobs. Stopping the heat will remove the fire’s main fuel source, helping to slow down its growth.
• Cover the flames: Grab a metal lid or cookie sheet larger than the pan on fire. Carefully slide the lid or cookie sheet over the pan to cover the flames entirely. Don’t plop the lid on top — you’ll leave oxygen under the lid to fuel the fire. Sliding the lid on top cuts off the fire’s oxygen supply, which is necessary for it to keep burning. Keep the lid on the pan until the fire is entirely out. Avoid using glass lids, as they could shatter due to the intense heat.
• Use baking soda: If you don’t have a lid or cookie sheet, another option is to use baking soda to put out the grease fire — it’s crucial to distinguish this from baking powder, which could explode the flames. Grab a box of baking soda and sprinkle a generous amount directly onto the flames. Baking soda can smother the fire, halting its spread. Keep adding more baking soda until the flames subside. While this method is excellent for extinguishing small fires, it likely won’t work as well for larger flames.
• Reach for a fire extinguisher: If you can’t stop the fire with a cover or baking soda, or if it is too large, grab a fire extinguisher. Having one of these devices on hand is a smart addition to your kitchen safety measures — ensure it’s either rated for Class B or K fires or is a multipurpose extinguisher, such as one with an ABC rating.  Learn how to use the fire extinguisher beforehand so that you can act confidently and swiftly in case of an emergency.
• Avoid carrying the pan: Do not carry the flaming pan outside or to the sink. Moving the pan can spread the fire, and you may get hurt in the process. It’s best to leave the pan where it is and deal with the fire using the above methods.
• Call for help: Before the fire gets out of control, call for help. Dial emergency services, like 911, to summon professional firefighters trained to handle fires. If you put out the flames before these services arrive, you can always notify them to turn around — rather be safe than sorry. Shout out to alert others in the house and make sure everyone evacuates to a secure location outside.
• Repair any fire damage: Fires are overwhelming, and the damage caused to your home and valuables can be devastating. Once your grease fire is controlled and you and your family are safe, call a trusted fire damage restoration company like ServiceMaster of Lincoln Park. Due to the thick clouds of smoke caused by these fires, you may need smoke cleanup services. Beyond the acrid smell, which can be a nuisance, smoke damage can also be a health hazard.

What Not to Do if There Is a Grease Fire

Knowing what not to do is equally important — the last thing you want is to make the fire worse when your intention is to protect your home and family. Never use the following to put out a grease fire:

• Water
• Sugar or flour
• Towels

What Happens if You Put Water on a Grease Fire?

When water is poured on burning oil, it instantly vaporizes into steam. This rapid conversion causes the hot oil to splatter, spreading the fire and potentially causing severe burns or injuries. The steam also displaces the oxygen needed for the fire to burn, letting more oxygen rush in and creating a dangerous cycle that intensifies the flames. Although most people’s first instinct may be to use water to extinguish a grease fire, doing so is extremely dangerous and can worsen the situation.

Class A fire extinguishers are water-based, so you should never use them either. While putting water on a grease fire can cause it to spread, the pressurized water from one of these extinguishers could cause the flames to shoot up toward the ceiling.

What Happens if You Put Sugar or Flour on a Grease Fire?

Like baking powder, putting flour on a grease fire can cause it to explode — you may be surprised to learn that flour is a combustible material. Pouring sugar on these fires will also not extinguish them. Instead, the sugar will melt and become caramelized, which may cause the fire to spread. Powdered sugar is another combustion hazard, and will have the same outcome as using flour.

While these powdery substances might look similar to baking soda, which you can use to smother a grease fire, using them instead could pose a serious threat. Sugar and flour will have the opposite effect and could put you and your loved ones in greater danger.

What Happens if You Put Towels on a Grease Fire?

Whether wet or dry, towels placed on a grease fire can cause the fire to grow. As wet towels contain water, the water will also turn to steam, leading to hot grease or oil splattering. A dry towel will likely catch fire itself.

You also shouldn’t use a towel to fan the flames, as doing so can supply the fire with more oxygen. As mentioned, oxygen keeps a fire burning, so creating more of this element is not what you want when trying to put the flames out.

How to Prevent Grease Fires

Prevention is key if you want to reduce your chances of dealing with a dangerous grease fire. While stopping a grease fire with the right tools can help keep you safe and protect your home from fire damage, these prevention tips may allow you to avoid them entirely:

• Stay in the kitchen: Make sure your cooking is always supervised, especially when using hot oil or frying foods. Keeping a close eye on the stove can help you catch any potential problems early and prevent a grease fire from starting.
• Control the heat: Keep the heat at a medium to low setting when frying foods to avoid overheating the oil. This is one of the easiest ways to prevent grease fires. For foods that require a higher heat, increase the heat gradually. If you notice the oil beginning to smoke, turn off the heat immediately and let it cool down before resuming cooking.
• Use pots with lids: Using lids when you cook with pots on the stovetop provides a handy tool for smothering the fire. Secure lids can help cover and put out the flame in the event of a grease fire.
• Keep flammable items away: Keep flammable items like paper towels, oven mitts and dish towels far from the stove. These items can easily catch alight and spread the fire if they come into contact with hot oil or an open flame.
• Clean the stovetop regularly: Grease and food particles that accumulate on the stovetop can ignite if they get too hot. Regularly clean the stovetop and surrounding areas to prevent grease buildup.
• Be cautious with wet or frozen foods: Avoid placing wet or frozen foods directly into hot oil, as this can cause splattering and increase the risk of a grease fire. Thaw and dry foods before frying them.

Get Expert Help After a Fire With ServiceMaster of Lincoln Park

For anyone who cooks, knowing how to put a grease fire out is essential. But if the fire spreads and damages your home, turn to trusted experts to repair the damage.

ServiceMaster of Lincoln Park delivers professional fire restoration services in the Chicago area, allowing you to get your home back after a grease fire as quickly as possible. With 24/7 emergency services, you can get the help you need when you need it. Our thorough wall and ceiling cleaning will make your home smoke and fire-free, restoring your space and your peace of mind. If you need fire damage repairs, contact us today!