Grease and oil fires are a common cause of house fires. This usually happens when cooking oil gets too hot or food is left unattended. First, the cooking oil starts to smoke, then it can catch fire. Flames from a kitchen fire can then spread to other areas of your home. In order to limit damage and keep your family safe, we look at how to put out a grease fire. Plus we cover how to clean up after a kitchen fire.
How to Put Out an Oil Fire or a Grease Fire in the Kitchen?
When putting out a grease fire, try to remain calm and take immediate action. The following steps will help put out an oil fire in the kitchen and limit the amount of damage. However, call the fire department immediately if the fire is out of control. Then evacuate your family and wait outside for them to arrive.
- Turn off the Heat – You should immediately turn off the heat – do not try to move the pot, as you might spill burning oil on yourself or other flammable surfaces in your kitchen.
- Smother the Fire with a Lid – Place a metal lid or even a cookie sheet on top of the pan to smother the fire. Do not use a glass lid, as there is a chance it could shatter.
- Use Baking Soda or Salt – If it is a small fire, you can use baking soda or salt to put out an oil fire. Pour the baking soda or salt directly on the flames to smother the fire.
- Use a Fire Extinguisher – For larger fires, use a Class B Dry Chemical Fire extinguisher. You can also use an ABC fire extinguisher as well.
What Not to Do When Putting Out a Grease Fire
While using water to put out an oil fire or moving the pan may seem safe, they are actually very dangerous. You should avoid doing the following when putting out kitchen fires.
- Use Water – You should never use water to put out a grease fire. Instead of putting out the flames, the water can splash oil and allow the fire to spread.
- Move the Pan – While you may want to move the pan to the sink or put it outside, you could spill the oil or even drop the pan. It’s much safer to put out an oil fire on your stovetop.
- Use Other Cooking Powders – Although you may think flour, baking powder or sugar will smother the fire like baking soda or salt, they do not work the same. In fact, they can actually fuel the fire or produce thick smoke.
How to Clean up After a Kitchen Fire
Once the fire is completely out, let the pan cool completely before moving it. However, you can start cleaning up the damage immediately.
- Vacuum Up Debris – Use a shop-style vacuum with a hose to remove dirt and debris with a shop-style vacuum. Avoid putting the hose directly against surfaces, as this can rub in the stain.
- Dry Clean Soot Stains – Use dry cleaning sponges to scrub away soot stains. Also called chemical sponges, they are available at most hardware and home improvement stores.
- Wet Clean Soot Stains – For tough soot stains, gently scrub them with liquid dish soap and water. Use a rag instead of a scrub brush, as the brush can scratch walls and wood surfaces.
- Ventilate Your Kitchen – Open windows and use fans to remove smoke odors. For extreme odors, sprinkle baking soda around to absorb smells, then vacuum it up.
- Prime and Paint Walls – Once you’ve removed the stains, paint the walls. For the best results, apply two coats of a stain-blocking primer first.
- Polish or Refinish Wood – For wood surfaces, clean with oil soap and then polish to restore the luster. For extreme damage, you may need to strip and refinish the surface.
While putting out a grease fire is easy, cleaning up after one can be more difficult. If you need help cleaning up after a kitchen fire, call Restoration Local now. With contractors across the country, we make it to clean up and restore your home after a fire. Call 1-888-443-3110 now for a free estimate on fire restoration services.
