Grease Fires

6/25/2018 (Permalink)

Grease fires are the most dangerous when it comes to cooking fires and are responsible for 1 in every 5 home fire deaths. I will give you some tips on how to prevent and put out grease fires. These tips could help save your or a loved one's life.

Prevention

• Before you start cooking make sure burner is cool and wipe up any spills.
• Pay attention to heat ratings for cooking oil. Some oils can be heated more than others before catching fire so if you are cooking and notice the oil start to smoke that means it is close to catching fire.
• As soon as you start to see it smoke carefully remove the pan from the heat source.
• Avoid heating grease before putting food into it because when you drop food in it can make the grease splash out which in turn can cause grease burns or it can also hit the heat source and catch fire.
• Carefully clean spills as soon as they happen by first removing food from heat source, turning off heat source, and waiting for burner to cool.
• When deep frying make sure you use a pan or cooking container big enough.
• Use a utensil that will allow you to put the food into the grease without dropping and without your hands coming close to the hot grease.
• Use a screen that covers the pan to reduce the chance of splatters outside the pan.
• If you are a new or inexperienced cook do not attempt to deep fry for the first time unless you have an experienced cook with you.
• NEVER add water to grease.

Putting out a grease fire

• Turn off source of heat
• Do NOT pour water on it. Water and oil do not mix and when you add water it will sink right to the bottom and evaporate instantly, spreading flaming oil everywhere.
• Attempt to remove all oxygen from the flame. Cover with another pot or baking pan.
• If you can't cover it, dump lots of baking soda on it.