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22
Nov

HOW TO PUT OUT A GREASE FIRE

This is a reprint from an article Wake wrote last year for our ezine.  With Thanksgiving two days away I thought it appropriate to remind everyone about safety in the kitchen.  While this blog does not mention the dangers of turkey fryers, there are several web sites available that will show you the proper and safe way to deep fry a turkey.  We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Holiday weekend.

 

The most common type of kitchen fire that we see in this business is the fire that is started by grease catching on fire in a pan on the stove.  The danger of this kind of fire is often exacerbated by the way people attempt to put out this type of fire.  If you throw water onto a grease fire, the water, which is heavier than the oil, will sink to the bottom, then become superheated and the steam will push its way up and out of the pan.  The force of this kind of explosion can be quite stunning and worst of all, this explosion will smear burning oil all over the kitchen from the ceiling to the walls.  After this has happened, the best course of action would be to get out of the house and call the fire department.

Other inaccurate wisdoms that are handed down about grease fires include throwing flour or sugar on a grease fire in a pan.  These are also very dangerous strategies, in fact it is estimated that throwing one cup of flour or sugar on a burning grease fire in a pan can create an explosion with the force of up to two sticks of dynamite.

Fortunately, there is a simple and low tech solution to this type of fire.

Step 1 – Turn off the heat on the burner.

Step 2 – Rinse a dish towel fully in water and then wring it out.

Step 3 – Carefully place the wet dishtowel over the burning pan of grease and wait for it to cool down.

I have found a short video on youtube that you can watch to see a demonstration of this technique.  Please take 30 seconds to watch this short video and then teach this to your children and those you love.  This knowledge could save the life of someone you love.  To see this 30 second video, please click here.