How to put out a grease fire

How to put out a grease fire on the stove, step by step

NFPA, the U.S. Fire Administration and the Red Cross give the same core steps. NFPA adds one condition if you fight the fire: others must be getting out, and you need a clear way out.

1. 1

   Leave the pan where it is

   Picking up a burning pan sloshes burning oil onto you, the floor and the cabinets. The Red Cross warns that moving it can cause serious injury or spread the fire.

2. 2

   Slide a metal lid or baking sheet over the pan

   Slide it on from the side so your hand stays out of the flames. Covering the pan cuts off the air the fire needs. If the matching lid is not within reach, a baking sheet does the same job.

3. 3

   Turn off the burner

   This stops the oil from getting any hotter. On a gas stove the flame goes out at once. NFPA notes that an electric burner takes time to cool, so the cover matters even more there.

4. 4

   Keep the lid on until the pan is completely cool

   Do not lift it to check. NFPA warns that the fire could start again if you remove the cover. Let the pan sit for a long time.

5. 5

   If the fire keeps growing, get out

   Get everyone out and close the door behind you to help hold the fire in. Call 911 from outside. NFPA says to leave if the fire does not go out or you are not comfortable putting a lid on it.

Is an oil fire the same as a grease fire?

Yes. In a home kitchen, an oil fire and a grease fire are the same thing. Cooking oil, fat, butter or grease gets hot enough to catch fire. To put out an oil fire, use the same steps: cover the pan, turn off the burner and never use water.

It is also one of the most common ways a kitchen fire starts. NFPA's Home Cooking Fires report looked at home cooking fires that began with food or cooking materials. In 51 percent of them, oil, fat or grease was the first thing to catch fire (2017 to 2021 data). More numbers are on our kitchen fire statistics page.

Why you should never put water on a grease fire

Water makes a grease fire much worse. Water is heavier than oil, so it sinks to the bottom of the pan. The oil is far hotter than the boiling point of water, so the water turns to steam at once. The steam bursts up through the oil and throws burning droplets out of the pan. That spreads the fire to the stove, the cabinets and the person holding the cup.

The same goes for a water extinguisher or carrying the pan to the sink. NFPA, the U.S. Fire Administration and the Red Cross all say never to use water on a grease fire.

Can you put flour, sugar, salt or baking soda on a grease fire?

Two kitchen powders can help, and only on a very small fire. Two others make it worse. A lid beats all of them.

Can flour put out a grease fire?

No. Flour can make a grease fire worse. Flour burns, and a cloud of fine flour dust over a flame can burn almost all at once. OSHA lists flour among the food dusts that can explode. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to use flour on a cooking fire. Pancake mix, cornstarch and baking powder are no better.

Can you use sugar to put out a grease fire?

No. Sugar is a fuel, not a smothering agent. Like flour, it can feed the fire, and OSHA lists sugar among the food dusts that can explode. Leave it in the cupboard.

Does salt put out a grease fire?

Salt does not burn, so a thick layer can smother a very small fire that is still inside the pan. You need a lot of it, poured on gently, not a sprinkle. It will not stop anything bigger. A lid is faster and more reliable.

Does baking soda put out a grease fire?

Yes, but only a very small one. Baking soda gives off carbon dioxide as it heats, which helps smother the flame. The FDNY tells people to use a lid or baking soda to smother a pan fire. You need a large amount, poured on gently. Baking powder is a different product and should not be used.

What kind of fire extinguisher do you use on a grease fire?

For a home kitchen, the Red Cross recommends a multipurpose A-B-C extinguisher. Its Class B rating covers flammable liquids, including grease and oil. Class K is made for cooking oils and fats, and the U.S. Fire Administration notes it is often found in commercial kitchens. Never use a water extinguisher on a grease fire.

A lid is still the first choice. The Red Cross says to use an extinguisher only if all of these are true:

• · Everyone has left or is leaving the home.
• · Someone has called 911.
• · The fire is small and not spreading.
• · Your back is to an exit you can use quickly.
• · There is not much smoke in the room.

To extinguish a grease fire, remember PASS. Pull the pin, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly and sweep from side to side. The Red Cross notes that most portable extinguishers empty in 8 seconds. If the fire does not die down right away, drop the extinguisher and get out.

How to put out a grease fire without an extinguisher

Smother it. Slide a metal lid or a baking sheet over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave it covered until the pan is completely cool. This is the method NFPA, the U.S. Fire Administration and the Red Cross recommend, and it needs no extinguisher. If you have no cover, a large amount of baking soda can smother a very small fire. If that does not work, get out and call 911.

Can grease fires happen on an electric stove?

Yes. Grease fires start on electric and gas stoves alike, because the oil is what burns. They are actually reported more often on electric ranges. NFPA’s Home Cooking Fires report found 2.4 times as many reported cooking fires per million households with electric ranges as with gas ranges.

The steps are the same on both. On a gas stove, turning the knob off removes the flame right away. On an electric stove, the coil or glass top stays hot after you switch it off. Keep the lid on and leave the pan where it is. Do not slide it onto a cooler burner.

What not to do in a grease fire

• · Do not use water. It turns to steam and throws burning oil out of the pan.
• · Do not carry the pan outside or to the sink. Burning oil spills on you and the floor on the way.
• · Do not lift the lid to check. Air gets back in and the fire can start again.
• · Do not use flour, sugar or baking powder. They can feed the fire.
• · Do not fan the flames or swat them with a towel. Moving air feeds the fire, and a towel can catch fire or knock the pan over.
• · Do not open the oven door if the fire is inside the oven. Turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• · Do not stay to fight a fire that is spreading. Get out and call 911 from outside.

When to get out and call 911

Get out if the fire spreads beyond the pan, the lid does not put it out, or smoke fills the room. Get everyone out and close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 911 from outside, and do not go back in.

Fighting a kitchen fire yourself carries real risk. In NFPA's Home Cooking Fires report, more than half of non-fatal injuries happened when people tried to control the fire themselves. The U.S. Fire Administration's rule is short: when in doubt, just get out.

After the fire is out

1. 1. Keep the lid on until the pan is completely cool. NFPA says to let it cool for a long time.
2. 2. If the fire was in the oven, or you are not sure it is fully out, call 911. Firefighters can check that it has not spread into the walls.
3. 3. Open windows to clear the smoke.
4. 4. If anyone was burned, cool the burn with water and call for medical help.
5. 5. Test your smoke alarms with the test button. The Red Cross advises doing this at least once a month.

How to prevent a grease fire

Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires, according to NFPA. These habits from NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration lower the risk:

• · Stay in the kitchen while you fry.
• · Heat oil slowly, only to the temperature you need.
• · If you see wisps of smoke or smell the oil, turn off the burner. Smoke means the oil is too hot.
• · Keep a lid next to the pan every time you cook with oil.
• · Keep towels, oven mitts and food packaging away from the stove.
• · Do not cook if you are sleepy or have been drinking.

For the full checklist, see our stove fire prevention guide. If you are away and think a burner is still on, read what to do if you forgot the stove on.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• · NFPA, Safety with cooking equipment
• · NFPA, Home Cooking Fires report (2017 to 2021 data)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Cooking fire safety
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Cook Safely flyer (What to do if your pan is on fire)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Choosing and using fire extinguishers
• · American Red Cross, Home fire preparedness
• · American Red Cross, Fire safety equipment
• · American Red Cross, Kitchen safety tips (oven and microwave fires)
• · U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recipe for safer cooking
• · FDNY, Kitchen cooking fire safety
• · OSHA, Combustible dust