How to prevent a grease fire

2/10/2023 (Permalink)

Many people think they don't have to worry about grease fires because they're usually caused by cooking. Any items that contains grease can catch fire if it gets too hot, including candles and even your clothing dryer vent! So as we enter the warm weather months, take a minute to evaluate your home's safety and prepare yourself for something unexpected.

Grease fires are the most common fires.

Grease fires are one of the most common types of home fires. They usually start in the kitchen when you're cooking with oil and fat at high temperatures, but a house fire can also be caused from candles or clogged dryer vents.

Grease fires can happen anywhere there's fat drippings, mostly on your stovetop or inside your oven but could also happen on your outside grill.

Never underestimate a fire

It's easy to underestimate the power of a grease fire. They can cause a lot of property damage, much more than you might expect. And that's not to mention the injuries and fatalities caused by burns and smoke inhalation. A grease fire is just bigger and faster than it looks.

If you have an open flame or heat source near anything containing oil (like french fries), then there's always the potential for disaster, and fast! The flames from your stovetop may only be small at first, but as soon as they reach an open container of cooking oil or fat...BOOM! Your kitchen goes up in flames faster than you can say "I'm going to need some new cabinets."

Handling a Grease Fire

Don't panic. A quick, calm response will help you avoid or minimize damage from an out-of-control blaze. Don't try to put out the flames with water or other liquids (including baking soda). The water can cause splattering and spread the fire more quickly than it would otherwise have done so, making matters worse rather than better! Don't use any kind of metal pot lid--it won't do anything except make your pan harder to clean later on! Turn off the heat source. .If you're cooking on a stovetop, turn off the burner and remove any pots or pans from it. Leave immediately if possible. Let the firefighter handle the job.

What happens after SERVPRO is called?

Once you call SERVPRO, we will respond to your home. Our technicians have the training and equipment needed to put out a grease fire safely and effectively. If you are unable to put out a grease fire yourself, call 911 before calling SERVPRO of Berlin/Williamstown.

If you've never dealt with a grease fire before, or if it's been a while, it can be hard to know what to do. Maybe you're worried about ruining your dinner or favorite pan--or maybe you're worried about something worse! Fortunately, there are some easy ways to put out a grease fire that will give you the best chance of saving your meal and yourself. Give SERVPRO of Berlin/Williamstown a call at the first sign of fire damage in your home.