FAMILY SAFESAFE Keeping your home hazard-free Kitchen Fires

Every year without fail, personnel and spouses are injured in kitchen fires, triggered when they overheat grease while frying food. Grease fires are extremely dangerous because the burning grease is easily spilled, which spreads the flames to curtains or cabinets. According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires. Stay by the stove and be prepared for flames. Dont use water on a grease fire. It wont put it out, but instead, will cause it to splash and spread. It will also produce dangerous steam. FAMILY SAFESAFE For more safety resources, visit

Kitchen Fires Get everyone out of the building. Fires spread extremely quickly and can overwhelm victims in minutes. Call 911. The fire department can always go back to the station if you are able to get the fire out without help. The easiest way to smother a grease fire is to cover it with a pan lid, preferably metal. Glass lids can break from the extreme heat of open flame. Grease fires can also be smothered with baking soda, but it takes a lot of baking soda to do the trick. Unless the baking soda is easily accessible, it's usually easier to quickly find a lid. FAMILY SAFESAFE For more safety resources, visit

Kitchen Fires A dry chemical fire extinguisher will also work, but it will contaminate your kitchen and food. Dont try to carry the fire outside. You can also spray the fire with a Class B dry chemical fire extinguisher. Note that this method will ruin the food and contaminate dishes and utensils. Carefully slide a lid over the pan. Turn off the burner, don't move the pan, and keep the lid on until the pan cools completely. FAMILY SAFESAFE For more safety resources, visit