Grease pan fires are more common than you think and can be extremely dangerous in your home. This threat can occur when the cooktop is in use, which puts you at extreme risk because of your proximity while cooking. Storing fire equipment nearly and knowing exactly what to do when a fire emergency arises is vital to the safety of you and your family. Follow these instant actions when your grease pan is engulfed in flames.
Try To Cover The Pan To Smother The Flames
If your grease pan catches fire, your first actions should be to put on some oven mitts and close the pan with a lid. This will effectively cut off the oxygen that the fire needs to grow larger. Try to slide the lid into the pan instead of putting the lid from over the flame to prevent any burns and injuries to your hand. Make sure you turn off the stove and leave the pan to cool down before undertaking any further action.
Use A Fire Extinguisher On A Growing Flame
If the flame has already gotten too big, then simply placing the lid over the pan won't be enough to smother the fire. In this instance, you will need to get to some fire equipment like an extinguisher or a blanket as soon as possible. Make sure they are always located in conveniently accessible locations, so that you don't waste any time when it comes to using them on a growing fire. When using the fire extinguisher, aim as low as possible to cut the source of the fire.
Sprinkle Baking Soda To Prevent The Fire From Starting Up Again
Even if you have completely put off the fire with your fire equipment, it may be a good idea to be extra cautious. Sprinkle some baking soda over the grease pan to completely smother the fire. Baking soda is made from sodium bicarbonate, which is ideal for cutting oxygen supply to the fire. Without oxygen, the fire will die out. Many fire extinguishers also contain sodium bicarbonate to put out fires. Don't throw water at grease fire because you it may trigger more flames and will cause the fire to spread.
Call Your Local Fire Department
If none of these steps work, get out of the house as safely as possible and call your local fire department. Don't waste too much time inside if the fire shows no signs of slowing down because you will end up putting yourself at risk. The fire authorities have more sophisticated fire equipment to tackle larger fires.
Follow these instant actions when your grease pan is engulfed in flames. For your safety, always make sure that your home fire equipment is in proper working condition at all times.
