If you manage a restaurant, you should take steps to prevent grease fires in the kitchen. Doing so will help protect your staff, cooking equipment, and reputation. However, if something does go wrong, you must understand how to react. Below is more information that you should know about handling grease fires.

How to Handle Restaurant Grease Fires

Do:

Take a proactive approach.

Instruct your staff about safety steps to perform daily. Unattended kitchens are where many accidents occur because no one addresses the problem before it escalates. The kitchen should always have attentive staff members, particularly when heating oil or using a commercial fryer. Employees should also make sure that the cooking equipment is off before they leave the premises every day.

Manage the fire safely.

If a grease fire starts, you should act accordingly—and safely. Begin by smothering the flames with a cookie sheet or a pan lid. Make sure you slide it over the fire instead of placing it on top. This will protect your hands and “cut” through the oxygen, which feeds the flames. Then turn off the source of the heat.

Don’t:

Use water to put out a fire.

Often, people will throw water on a fire in the hopes that it will dissipate the flames. However, when dealing with grease fires, using water, milk, or sugar can displace the grease and send it throughout the kitchen, spreading the flames. By contrast, salt and baking soda can effectively put out the blaze, although you may need to use a significant amount to notice a difference.

Forget about a suppression system.

All commercial properties must have the appropriate fire protection equipment on hand. While sprinkler systems are effective for some purposes, they can’t safely put out grease fires. You need a Class B fire extinguisher that breaks down the oil and grease responsible for the fire. This is as vital as the cooking equipment, and could save your restaurant from considerable damage.

Are you seeking high-quality cooking equipment to replace pieces in a fire-damaged commercial kitchen? Turn to Commercial Refrigeration of KY Inc. Located in Campbellsville and serving the community since 1980, they offer many products to help you run an efficient restaurant. You’ll find commercial ovens, stoves, ranges, fryers, freezers, and ice makers, among other pieces that are vital to the business. Visit the website for more information about their products. Call (270) 465-2910 to speak with a representative.