How to Protect Your House from Grease Fires

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Picture of By <span>Matthew Roberts</span>
By Matthew Roberts

Updated on October 29, 2024

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Picture of By <span>Matthew Roberts</span>
By Matthew Roberts

Updated October 29, 2024

Visit author page

3 minute read

Article Contents

Grease fires are a significant hazard in Canadian kitchens. Unattended cooking fires are one of the most common causes of house fires in the country, with a significant number of these involving grease fires. You can reduce the risk of such fires by keeping a clean kitchen, but how often should you clean your kitchen and what else can you do to prevent this hazard?

Protecting Your Property from Grease Fires at a Glance

  • Install safety features like extinguishers and smoke detectors to alert you and help you put out grease fires ASAP. They may also entitle you to home insurance discounts – check with your provider to see if these additions will give you better rates.
  • A tell-tale sign that your cooking oil is dangerously hot is when it starts to boil and smoke. Turn down the heat immediately when it reaches that point and quickly move the pan off the burner if possible to prevent it from heating up further and igniting the oil and the food.
  • If a grease fire has grown and needs to be put out with an extinguisher, make sure you use a Class K fire extinguisher. These wet chemical extinguishers prevent reignition and are made to put out fires caused by cooking oils or fats in kitchen appliances.

Read on to learn tips on how to prepare your home against fires and extinguish house fires safely. We’ll walk you through how to put out a grease fire and what should you not do when trying to extinguish one.

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What Steps Can I Take to Plan Ahead?

Being proactive is key to minimizing the risk of grease fires in your home. Here are some steps you should take to protect your home and stay prepared:

A grease fire can start anywhere, but your kitchen is particularly at risk because of daily cooking. Keep your kitchen surfaces clean to get rid of food particles or oil that can catch fire. Make sure your stovetop, oven, and exhaust fans are spotless, as grease buildup can quickly ignite.

According to StatCan, one in 10 residential fires occur in a home without a smoke alarm. Install smoke alarms in your kitchen and other parts of your home, and make sure to test them monthly and check their batteries so they’re ready to alert you in case of an emergency.

Keep a close eye on the temperature of your cooking oil and use a kitchen thermometer to make sure it doesn’t exceed its smoke point, which will vary depending on the type of oil used. Exceeding the smoke point not only destroys nutrients but may also ignite the oil and start a fire.

Develop a fire escape plan that has multiple exit points in your home. Make sure all your family members or roommates are informed of this plan so they know what to do in case of a fire.

Generally, homes should have at least one fire extinguisher for every floor of their home. However, there should be a dedicated fire extinguisher near your kitchen because of the gas and electricity lines that increase the risk of a fire there. Perform regular maintenance on your extinguishers to make sure they’re working properly when you need them most!

How to Safely Put Out a Grease Fire

Precautions are just one part of keeping your home and loved ones safe from grease fires. Knowing how to extinguish a grease fire safely is crucial. Here’s what to do when you’re facing this situation:

1. Turn off the heat:

If it’s safe to do so, turn off your cooking burner immediately. This will keep the fire from getting bigger or spreading.

2. Smother the fire:

Cover the flames with a metal lid or cooking sheet to keep oxygen in the air from supplying the fire. Oxygen feeds fires, and cutting off the supply will effectively extinguish small fires.

3. Don’t try to move the burning pan or pot out of your house:

You might splash the ignited oil on yourself or other parts of your home, which may then catch fire.

4. Use salt or baking soda on small fires:

Salt or baking soda can help extinguish small flames. Do not use flour and sugar, as these will ignite and spread the fire.

5. Use a fire extinguisher to put out a larger fire:

If the fire has gotten larger and can’t be contained by the measures above, reach for the most accessible fire extinguisher in your home and use it to put out the fire. Make sure it’s Class K and not water-based, as water may only cause the fire to flare up.

How to Safely Put Out a Grease Fire

What Not to Do During a Grease Fire

Knowing what not to do is just as important, so you can prevent a grease fire from spreading. Here are things you should take care to avoid:

Don’t use water:

While water works for some house fire situations, throwing water on a grease fire can cause burning oil to splatter. This may spread the flames further and make the situation worse.

Avoid using flammable substances to put out the fire:

Don’t use flammable materials like sugar or cloth to try to smother and put out the fire. The grease may spread on these materials and ignite them.

Thaw food thoroughly before cooking:

Don’t add frozen food to hot oil, as the thawing ice may make the oil spatter and ignite nearby flammable materials.

Key Advice from MyChoice

  • Apart from regularly scrubbing down kitchen surfaces, you should regularly inspect your fire extinguishers so you’re prepared for grease fires. Make sure they’re accessible, unexpired, and fully charged.
  • Consider hiring professionals to deep-clean your kitchen’s duct and ventilation systems at least once a year to prevent grease buildup and reduce fire risks.
  • Always monitor your cooking. If you need to step away from time to time, set a timer to remind you to check on your food and the stove.

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