3 Steps for Putting Out a Grease Fire

11/2/2021 (Permalink)

This home suffered from a kitchen fire. The team at SERVPRO responded immediately and began clean-up procedures.

3 Steps to Extinguishing a Grease Fire

Fires can happen in the kitchen of your Chicago, IL home more commonly than any other room. One major cause is the ignition of a grease fire, might occur when you are using cooking oils or frying food. This type of blaze can spread quickly; however, knowing how to put it out can prevent major damage or injury before it is too late.

1. Stay Calm

When a fire like this breaks out, it can be frightening and your first instinct may be to panic. Keeping your head can help you assess whether the fire is still small enough to put out on your own and give you the presence of mind to turn off the burner. Removing the heat source should keep the fire from spreading and give you time to act.

2. Smother the Flames

Fire needs oxygen to spread, so if the blaze is still contained to one pan, you can cover it with a metal lid to snuff it out. If the pan has a matching glass lid, avoid using it to cover the fire, as it may overheat and explode. Use extreme care when approaching the fire.

3. Use Baking Soda

When putting out a grease fire, it is important to remember that water will not douse the flames and may even help them spread. If the fire is still a small one, dump baking soda or salt on it to help snuff out the flames. If the fire caused damage to your stove, it is a good idea to call in a fire cleanup and restoration service to ensure surrounding appliances and other systems were not affected.

Dealing with a grease fire in your Chicago, IL, home can be frightening. However, when you stay calm and know how to snuff it out right away, you can prevent serious damage to your home and head off a potentially devastating blaze.