An informative article on how to put out a grease fire to share with your community Show A generous thank you to Captain Jeremy Francis and Firefighter Steven Malzachar from the Bismarck (North Dakota) Fire Department and Fire Chief Steve Nardello from the Mandan (North Dakota) Fire Department for their contributions to this article. By Rikki Roehrich Cooking causes over 160,000 home structure fires, annually, and is considered the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Of the 160,000 annual cooking fires, two-thirds (66%) started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. Often, these fires are ignited by grease. In an effort to keep your home and community safe, please share these tips with friends and family. Knowing how to respond quickly could be the difference between a minor kitchen fire and a devastating disaster.
If a grease fire starts:
Do not use flour, baking powder or other cooking powders that resemble baking soda or salt – they have a different chemical makeup and will not react similarly. They will make the fire worse. It’s also important to remember that three out of five non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victim tried to fight the fire themselves. The most common injuries sustained were burns to the hands and lower arms. If you are unable to extinguish the grease fire:
While it is important to remember these steps in order to take appropriate action during a grease fire, it’s equally important to take actions to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Tips to prevent grease fires:
In addition to these tips, it is also a good practice to be mindful of times grease fires are more likely to occur. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. On a regular day, the most common time to experience a grease fire is between 5 PM and 7 PM, followed by 11 AM to 1 PM. By using proper cooking techniques and best practices, frying with grease or oil should pose a relatively small risk. Still, it’s always good to keep this information nearby in the event you do experience a grease fire. A quick and proper reaction will minimize any damage as well as prevent injury and death. Next, read about how to put out an electrical fire in five steps. This article, originally published on March 21, 2017, has been updated. About the AuthorRikki Roehrich is a writer and program manager. She has a master’s of the arts communication and media studies and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and media studies from California State University-Sacramento. Connect with Roehrick on LinkedIn. What are the four ways to extinguish a grease fire?If a grease fire starts:. Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. ... . Turn off the heat source.. If it's small and manageable, pour baking soda or salt on it to smother the fire.. As a last resort, spray the fire with a Class B dry chemical fire extinguisher.. Do not try to extinguish the fire with water.. What are three ways to put out a grease fire?How to put out a grease fire. Turn off the burner.. Keep the pan in place. If you have a fire, your first instinct might be to move the pan. ... . Place a lid over the pan. ... . Let the lid smother the fire. ... . If the fire does not go out, get everyone out of the house and call 911 from outside.. What 3 things should you avoid putting on a grease fire?Don'ts of putting out a grease fire:
Don't extinguish a grease fire with water or a wet towel. Don't use flour, baking powder or sugar to smother the fire. Don't remove the pan from the burner or place it in the sink. The oil may splash around and potentially burn you.
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