4 Steps to Put Out a Kitchen Grease Fire in Akron, Ohio

9/8/2021 (Permalink)

If you experience a grease fire in your home and you need emergency cleanup and restoration, please call SERVPRO of West Akron at 330-867-5723.

A grease fire can start quickly and spread rapidly if not extinguished. 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.

4 Steps to Put Out a Kitchen Grease Fire in Akron, Ohio

Cover Flames

The first thing you need to do is cover the flames. Use a metal pan lid or a cookie sheet to smother and extinguish the fire. If you put out the fire quickly, your home may not experience any fire damage.

Turn off Heat Source

Once, the flames are extinguished, turn off the heat source. Do not pull the pot from the stove until the flames are extinguished to avoid injury. You don’t want to risk injury from the hot grease or flames. Once, the flames are extinguished, if possible, move the pan from the hot burner.

Use Baking Soda

If you do not have a lid or sheet capable of covering the pot with the fire, use baking soda. Do not use water. Water may make the situation worse. 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 like baking soda and may make the fire worse.

Use a Fire Extinguisher

If nothing seems to control the fire, consider using a fire extinguisher to reduce fire damage. However, you cannot use just any fire extinguisher. You need a class B fire extinguisher, always have one in your kitchen for essential fire prevention. 

A grease fire is common, and it is controllable. However, if you do not act quickly, the fire can spread rapidly. Use the steps above to extinguish a stovetop fire. If you are not familiar with grease fires, or if you don't know how to use an extinguisher, contact your local fire department to ask for help.

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