When you are in the midst of preparing a meal, it can be terrifying to realize a grease fire has broken out in your kitchen. Fortunately, by knowing how to take crucial fire mitigation steps and what you should avoid, you can prevent spreading the flames. Here are a few important do’s and don’ts to follow for handling a kitchen grease fire. 

Do:

Cut the heat. 

Although it can be incredibly easy to lose your cool when faced with a fire in your kitchen, work quickly, and cut the heat that is fueling the flame in the pot or pan. Often, simply turning off the heat source will cool the grease enough to extinguish the flame. 

Use appropriate flame retardants. 

Putting water on a grease fire is one of the worst things you can do. Since water and oil don’t mix, adding water to the fire could cause the flames to spread. Instead, always use appropriate flame retardants, such as a Class B fire extinguisher. Keep an extinguisher that’s designed to fight grease flames handy in your kitchen to make fire mitigation fast and easy. 

Don’t: 

Attempt to move the pot or pan.  

Sometimes, people try to move the pot or pan containing the grease outside where the fire poses less of a threat. Unfortunately, accidentally sloshing the pot or pan could spread the fire. Never attempt to move the pan, and instead fight the fire where it stands. 

Open doors and windows right away. 

If you open doors and windows in the area, the oxygen will fuel the flame and allow the fire to grow. Instead, work quickly to extinguish the flames without opening windows, and only open doors and windows after the fire is completely out. 

 

If your home has been damaged by grease flames, turn to the fire mitigation and disaster recovery specialists at FloodCo. Since their inception, these fire mitigation experts have been focused on helping customers throughout the Flathead Valley and northwest Montana recover from some of life’s most unfortunate surprises. Whether you are struggling to cope with a recent flood or fire, they can help. For 24/7 emergency support, visit their website or call (406) 892-1717.