Dos and Don’ts for Putting Out Grease Fires

7/24/2018 (Permalink)

Remember these dos and don’ts to keep your home safe when you cook.

Cooking with grease is one of the leading causes of kitchen fires in homes. Hopefully, you’ll never experience the damage that one can cause in your Spring Valley, CA, home, but if you encounter a grease fire while cooking, there are a few things you can do to put it out.

• DO: Turn Off the Heat

The first thing to do is turn off the heat source. Fires need heat to thrive.

• DO: Cover the Fire

Smothering the fire prevents oxygen from fueling the flames. Use a cookie sheet or a metal lid to cover the fire. Glass and ceramic can explode from heat, making them dangerous to use as a cover.

• DO: Pour on Some Baking Soda

If you’re up against a small fire, pouring baking soda onto the flames will put it out. This only works for small fires because it requires a lot of baking soda to do the job.

• DO: Use a Fire Extinguisher (If You Must)

For worst case scenarios, Class K or B fire extinguishers will put out grease flames. This will make a mess and contaminate your kitchen, however. After using an extinguisher, experts can assist with fire cleanup.

• DON’T: Pour on Water

Pouring water onto grease can actually make the fire worse. Remember that water and oil do not mix!

• DON’T: Use Other Baking Products

Baking soda is the only baking product that can put out a grease fire. Baking powder and flour look similar but have different reactions with flames.

• DON’T: Use Fabric to Swat at the Fire

Using a kitchen rag, blanket or other fabric to swat at a fire only fans the flames. Even worse, the fabric is flammable and can catch fire, too.


A grease fire is preventable if you stay close to food while it cooks and use safety precautions, but accidents do happen. Remember these dos and don’ts to keep your home safe when you cook. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROspringvalleyjamul.com//