| The best way to prevent grease fires is to never | | | | has been extinguished, do not removed the towel |
| let it start in the first place by exercising proper | | | | to check. Just as if you had extinguished it using a |
| kitchen safety and supervising pans on the stove. | | | | pan lid, wait for 20 minutes before lifting the |
| However, if a grease fire does occur, there are | | | | towel. |
| very specific steps you should take to extinguish | | | | In addition, you can extinguish a grease fire using |
| it. | | | | baking soda. Turn off the heat source and pour |
| The first thing you should remember about | | | | the baking soda over the fire. Just like a towel or |
| extinguishing a grease fire is to never throw | | | | a pan lid, the baking soda smothers and prevents |
| water on the fire. This seems counter-intuitive, | | | | oxygen from reaching the source. However, |
| since we have always been taught that water | | | | extinguishing a fire with baking soda is difficult |
| can extinguish a fire. However, burning grease is | | | | because you must use a large amount in order |
| different than other fires. Oil and water do not | | | | for it to be effective. In addition, throwing baking |
| mix, so throwing water onto the burning grease | | | | soda onto the burning grease can cause the it to |
| will splatter the grease and can cause serious and | | | | splatter. You should never use sugar or flour on a |
| even deadly burns. In addition, when water hits | | | | grease fire, as each can cause an explosion upon |
| the grease burning at extremely high | | | | impact with the burning grease, but it is easy to |
| temperatures, the water can evaporate | | | | accidentally grab sugar or flour rather than baking |
| immediately upon impact and cause an explosion. | | | | soda. For these reasons, it is better to rely on a |
| To extinguish the fire, first evaluate its size. If the | | | | different method to extinguish a grease fire, if |
| fire is contained inside a pan, turn off the heat | | | | available. |
| and immediately place a lid on the pan to contain | | | | It is always a good idea to keep a fire |
| it. Do not attempt to move the pan-- this can | | | | extinguisher in the kitchen in case of a grease fire. |
| cause the grease to splatter and cause serious | | | | Educate yourself and your family on how to |
| burns. Watch the pan for twenty minutes and | | | | operate the extinguisher. Remember than the |
| then lift the lid to see if the fire has been fully | | | | extinguisher will contaminate the food in your |
| extinguished. If you lift the lid too soon, the | | | | kitchen, so after use, you should not consume the |
| sudden surge of oxygen to the hot pan can | | | | food. |
| cause the it to reignite. | | | | Do not hesitate to call the fire department for |
| Another way to extinguish the fire is by using a | | | | assistance. If the fire is out of control, |
| damp towel. Turn off the heat, then place a damp | | | | immediately evacuate the building with family |
| towel over the pan. Make sure the towel is damp, | | | | members and contact the fire department from |
| but not soaking in water. The purpose of | | | | your cell phone or a neighbor's house. Firefighters |
| dampening the towel is to keep the towel from | | | | can work to fully extinguish the fire and prevent |
| burning, but if the towel drips water onto the | | | | further damage to your home. In addition, |
| burning grease, it can cause the fire to expand. | | | | firefighters can inspect your home and make sure |
| The towel can extinguish the fire by depleting the | | | | that your home is still safe and can make sure |
| amount of oxygen available. If you think the fire | | | | that no structural element has been damaged. |