How to Put Out a Grease Fire

Grease fires are caused by cooking oil that becomes too hot. It only takes minutes for an unattended pot of oil to catch fire, so never turn your back on it! If a grease fire does erupt on your stove, turn off the heat right away. Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Never throw water on a grease fire. If the fire looks out of hand, get your family out of the house and call emergency services.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Snuffing out the Fire

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1
Evaluate the severity of the fire. If the fire is still small and contained to one pot, it is safe to extinguish it by yourself. If it's beginning to spread to other parts of the kitchen, get everyone assembled outside and dial for emergency services. Do not place yourself in the way of harm.
- Call emergency services if you're too afraid to go near the fire or don't know what to do. Do not risk life and limb to save a kitchen.
2
Turn off the heat on the stove immediately. This is your first priority, given that a grease fire needs heat to stay alive. Leave the pot where it is, and don't attempt to move it, as you may accidentally splash burning oil on yourself or your kitchen.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If you have time, put on an oven mitt first to protect your skin.
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3
Cover the flames with a metal lid. Fire needs oxygen to continue, so covering it with a metal lid will essentially smother the flame. Place a metal pan lid or a cookie sheet on top of the fire. Do not use glass lids; they can shatter when exposed to fire.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Also avoid using ceramic lids, bowls and plates for this purpose. These can explode and become dangerous shrapnel.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Dump baking soda on small fires. Baking soda will put out small grease fires, but won't work as effectively on larger ones. It will take a large amount of baking soda to get the job done, so grab the whole box and dump it generously on the flames until they're extinguished.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Table salt will also work. If you can get your hands on that faster, use salt.
- Do not using baking powder, flour or anything other than baking soda or salt for this.^{[5]XResearch source}
If you have a Class B or K dry chemical fire extinguisher on hand, this can put out a grease fire. Since the chemicals will contaminate your kitchen and be tough to clean up, only do this as a last resort. However, if it's the last line of defense before the fire gets out of control, don't hesitate!^{[6]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding Bad Procedures

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This is the number one mistake many people make with a grease fire. Water and oil don't mix, and throwing water on a grease fire can even cause the fire to spread.^{[7]XResearch source}
This will fan the flames and spread the fire. The fabric itself could also catch on fire. Don't place a wet towel over a grease fire to snuff out the oxygen, either.
Flour and baking powder may look similar to baking soda, but they won't have the same effect. Only baking soda and salt are safe and effective on a grease fire.^{[8]XResearch source}
This is another common mistake people make and it may seem logical at the time. However, moving a pot of burning oil can cause it to spill, potentially burning you and any other flammable objects it comes into contact with.^{[9]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Grease Fires

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Unfortunately, most grease fires happen when someone steps away just for a moment. Grease fires can happen in less than 30 seconds, though. Don't turn your back on hot grease.^{[10]XResearch source}
Cooking with a lid both contains the grease and cuts it off from its would-be oxygen supply. A grease fire can still erupt with the lid on the pot if the oil is hot enough, but it's far less likely to happen.
Get into the habit of making sure these items are within easy reach when you're cooking with grease. If a fire erupts, you'll have at least three different ways to immediately snuff it out.^{[11]XResearch source}
Find out the smoking point of the particular oil you're using, then use a clip-on thermometer to monitor the temperature as you cook. If it gets to close to the smoking point, turn off the heat.
If you see wisps of smoke or smell something acrid while you're cooking with oil, immediately turn down the heat or remove the pot from the burner. The oil won't immediately catch fire once it starts smoking, but smoke is a danger sign that it's getting close to that point.^{[12]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
How do I prevent grease fire?
David Decker
Firefighting Expert
David Decker is a Firefighting Expert based in Newark, Ohio. Assistant Chief Decker was a career firefighter for 32+ years at Newark Fire Department and served as an Assistant Chief for 14 years. As Assistant Chief, he was in charge of department operations and training. He is now the owner of Command Vision, a fire training company focusing on incident command. He also has a YouTube channel where he uploads dash-cam videos captured at fire scenes that serve as training material for fire officers who want to expand their knowledge. The channel features over 40 structure fire videos and has garnered 55k followers and more than 15 million views.
David Decker
Firefighting Expert
Expert Answer
To avoid grease fires, refrain from letting children play near cooking areas to prevent accidental spills or splatters that could ignite. Additionally, never leave cooking unattended, especially when frying or using oil. Keep flammable items like dish towels and oven mitts away from the stove, and always have a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Regularly clean cooking appliances and ensure they're free from grease buildup to minimize fire risk.
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Question
How do I use a fire extinguisher properly?
David Decker
Firefighting Expert
David Decker is a Firefighting Expert based in Newark, Ohio. Assistant Chief Decker was a career firefighter for 32+ years at Newark Fire Department and served as an Assistant Chief for 14 years. As Assistant Chief, he was in charge of department operations and training. He is now the owner of Command Vision, a fire training company focusing on incident command. He also has a YouTube channel where he uploads dash-cam videos captured at fire scenes that serve as training material for fire officers who want to expand their knowledge. The channel features over 40 structure fire videos and has garnered 55k followers and more than 15 million views.
David Decker
Firefighting Expert
Expert Answer
To use a fire extinguisher effectively, remember the PASS method: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side. Pull the pin to break the seal, aim the nozzle at the fire's base, squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent, and sweep the extinguisher from side to side until the flames are out. Following these steps helps contain small fires and prevents them from spreading.
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My cooking pot caught on fire and I put a glass lid on it to extinguish the flames. Is it now safe to remove the lid?
Community Answer
Wait at least 45 minutes to be safe. Call 911 if you are afraid to take it off. For future reference, don't use a glass lid if you can help it; the glass could heat up and shatter.
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