Don’t Panic: Here’s How To Put Out a Grease Fire

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

The office area of this home was severely damaged by a fire that started in the kitchen and swept through the entire house.

Don't Be Alarmed: Here's How To Extinguish A Grease Fire.

You’re quickly trying to put together a five star dinner in the kitchen when all of a sudden you start to smell smoke. You realize that you let the oil in the pan get way too hot, and now you have a fire on your hands! In Bagdad, AZ, grease fires can easily get out of hand fast. Instead of panicking and watching your house go up in flames until firefighters come to save the day, follow these steps to put it out:

1. Call for Help
   
   At any point, if you feel the fire is quickly getting out of hand, make sure to call 911 and get help right away. It is also a good idea to call in a fire damage repair company who will be able to deal with fire cleanup afterwards.
   
   
2. Don’t Reach for Water or a Towel
   
   People often wrongly assume that dumping water on the fire will quickly solve the issue, but this isn’t true when dealing with a grease fire. Also, don’t try to swat away the fire using a towel since this will only make the flames spread.
   
   
3. Turn Off the Heat
   
   You’ll have a hard time getting the fire to go down if you allow it access to more heat. Quickly turn your stove off!
   
   
4. Cover the Flames
   
   Use a metal lid or other metal object like a cookie sheet to cover up the fire. Oxygen provides fuel to fire, so covering it will keep oxygen away from the flames.
   
   
5. Dump Baking Soda or Salt
   
   Both baking soda and salt can help stop a fire in its tracks. While baking soda is fit for smaller fires, salt can be effective on even large fires. Use all that you’ve got to try and smother and absorb the fire.

Hopefully you will never have to deal with a grease fire in the first place, but don’t hesitate to follow these steps if your cooking ever literally goes up in flames!