The kitchen can sometimes be a tricky place to manage, from organizing pots and pans to making sure you’re operating the oven and stove correctly. Unfortunately, there are times when you make a mistake that could lead to a grease fire. On the bright side, you can learn how to stop a grease fire by reading this blog.

What Causes A Grease Fire?

A grease fire usually starts when cooking oil boils to the point of smoking and burning, resulting in a fire. The point at which cooking oil gets too hot and boils varies depending on the specific oil. This type of fire is very common in millions of kitchens across the United States. Before learning how to stop a grease fire, take a moment to look at what not to do in the event of a grease fire.

how to stop a grease fire

Grease Fires: What Not To Do

It’s important to know what not to do when there’s a grease fire in your kitchen so that right off the bat, you don’t do anything to make it worse. One of the biggest not-to-dos in putting out a grease fire is to douse it in water. While that understandably might seem like a perfectly reasonable solution, adding water to a grease fire actually allows it to spread.

Do not try to bring the pot or pan that caught on fire outside to extinguish. Bringing it outside allows the fire to become more widespread. If a grease fire happens under your watch, make sure you pay attention to the guidelines below.

How To Stop A Grease Fire

Not only do you now know what causes a grease fire, but you also know what not to do when a grease fire happens. To know how to stop a grease fire successfully, follow these steps exactly:

1. Remove The Heat Source

The first thing you should do the moment a grease fire erupts is to remove the heat source. This step involves turning off the burner itself, not moving the pot or pan away from the burner. Once you’ve switched off the burner, you can proceed to the next step.

2. Cover The Flames

Your next step in how to stop a grease fire is to cover the flames. For covering the flames, use a lid for a pot or pan that will smother the fire. A cooking sheet will also help, but whatever you do, don’t use a cloth or other flammable item to cover the flames.

3. Use Baking Soda Or Salt

After the flames are covered, use baking soda or salt to put out the grease fire once and for all. The baking soda or salt is poured on the fire to put it out. However, keep in mind that this specific method is most effective if the grease fire is on the smaller side. It is also essential that you never use baking powder, flour, or anything that superficially resembles baking soda or salt, as those have different chemical properties that could potentially make the fire worse.

4. If Neither Works, Evacuate, And Call For Help

If you’ve tried all the steps above and none of them seem to be stopping the grease fire, make sure everyone in the building is evacuated and call the fire department. Don’t see calling for help as a failure on your part, it just means you are keeping yourself and others safe. If the grease fire is already out of control, skip the above three steps and go right to calling for help.

How To Prevent Grease Fires

Of course, the best way to go about how to stop a grease fire is to utilize prevention measures. As long as you take advantage of these ways to prevent grease fires, the chances of you having to stop one will be incredibly low. The first grease fire prevention tactic is to keep any and all cooking areas clean and wash up all spills. Leaving your cooking station unclean increases the likelihood of a grease fire happening.

The next prevention tactic is to keep any and all flammable items away from stovetops. Additionally, don’t leave any cooking items unattended, especially while the cooking itself takes place. Finally, the best way to prevent a grease fire is to pay attention to the recommended temperature for whatever cooking oil you are using and remain within that range. As long as you practice any of these prevention tactics, you won’t need to worry about your kitchen catching on fire.

ASAP Restoration Will Help You After A Fire!

Now that you know how to stop a grease fire, you will be prepared if such a scenario happens. Hopefully, the prevention tips provided will decrease the chances of a grease fire in your kitchen. If you ever find yourself dealing with fire damage at home or work, however, you can reach out to us at ASAP Restoration any time, any day.