Grease Fire Prevention - Watch What You Heat!

Grease fires occur when oil or grease type foods are heated and ignite. They happen most often when food is cooking and the cook leaves the room, becomes distracted or even forgets that the food is cooking. Such a fire can do significant damage, especially if it extends to surrounding cabinets or other combutilble items. If unnoticed, a grease fire can easily extend to a major house fire, engulfing the entire kitchen, adjacent rooms or even the attic.

What should you do if there is a kitchen fire? When if doubt, just get out. If you do vacate the house, shut the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 911 after you leave.

If you feel you can contain the fire yourself, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit of the home. If you feel you can contain a small grease fire in a pan, first put on an oven mit and then carefully smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not attempt to move the pan. Dropping a pan full of burning grease will likely splatter you with super heated liquid resulting in severe burns, not to mention most certainly spreading the fire over a large area. Remember that your safety and the safety of others is most important. So NEVER try to carry a flaming grease fire outside. Once you have the lid on the pan, let it cool completely.

Putting a lid on the fire is the simplest way to smother the fire. Never put flour on a grease fire and never, never, never put water on it. Remember what happens when you put a drop of water on hot grease? It causes the grease to splatter. Imagine what would happen if you tried to douse a substantial grease fire, with even a substantial amount of water. It actually explodes the hot grease and dramatically increases the size of the fire.

So, if you are cooking, avoid distractions. Even a phone call can get your attention away from the stove long enough for a fire to start. If you are frying, make it a rule to never leave the kitchen as the difference between hot grease and a full fledged kitchen fire is only a few minutes. Just remember, "Watch what you heat!"

Kathy Reets - Co-Founder and Owner