How To Avoid Grease Fires at Home

12/23/2020 (Permalink)

Damaged wall after a kitchen grease fire

Hot grease has the potential to auto-ignite and is a dense fuel source. Grease fires burn very hot, making this type of blaze one of the most dangerous. To avoid the risk of significant cosmetic or structural damage, homeowners and residents should take the following measures to prevent and quickly extinguish a grease fire that breaks out in the kitchen of a home in Gladstone, MO.

Prepare To Douse Grease Fires

Depriving flames of oxygen is the best way to put out burning grease. Use any of the following methods to douse a grease fire on a home cooktop or range:

• Pour on baking soda and salt
• Cover with a metal lid or sheet pan
• Use a Class B dry chemical fire extinguisher

In general, fire extinguishers are not recommended for grease fires. The force with which suppressant gets expelled can spread flames.

Don’t Leave Hot Oil Unattended
Every cooking oil has an ignition temperature. When this temperature is reached and sustained, grease can light on fire and burn very hot. Many cooking fires start when items are left unattended on a heat source. Never start heating oil in a pan and then leave the kitchen.

Maintain Good Fire Safety Standards
Monitoring food while cooking, keeping combustible items away from stoves, and keeping items on hand for dousing blazes can make major kitchen and cooking fires less likely at a residence. It is also important to protect burner controls from pets and children, as accidental contact often leads to damage that requires fire cleanup.
Being aware of the risk grease fires pose and preparing to put out this type of fire can reduce the risk of major fire damage to a home in Gladstone, MO. Make sure to keep the right ingredients on hand to extinguish a grease fire without spreading flames and take measures to keep hot grease from igniting.