Grease fire in the pan: what to do?

A grease fire happens when cooking oil or fat gets hot enough to ignite, usually while frying or heating oil in a pan. It is one of the fastest-spreading kitchen fires because burning oil splashes, and because the most common instinct, throwing water on it, makes it dramatically worse. Stay calm, act in the right order, and know the point at which you should stop fighting the fire and leave.

Emergency warning

If flames have spread beyond the pan, are reaching cabinets or the ceiling, or the room is filling with smoke, get everyone out immediately and call your local emergency services from outside. Do not go back inside for any reason.

What to do first

1. Turn off the heat. If the burner controls are reachable without putting your hand or arm over the flames, switch the burner off. This removes the energy feeding the fire.
2. Smother the flames. Slide a metal lid, a baking sheet, or a larger metal pan over the burning pan. Slide it on from the side rather than dropping it from above, so you do not push flames outward. Leave it in place for at least several minutes after the flames disappear; the oil stays dangerously hot.
3. Turn off the exhaust fan if you can reach the switch safely. It can pull flames into the ductwork.
4. Leave the pan where it is. Do not carry a burning pan through the kitchen or outside. Hot oil can slosh, spill, and burn you or spread fire.
5. If you have a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires and you know how to use it, use it only if the fire is small and you have a clear exit behind you. Otherwise, evacuate.

What NOT to do

• Never pour water on a grease fire. Water flashes to steam instantly, throwing burning oil into the air and onto you and nearby surfaces.
• Do not use a glass lid. It can shatter from the heat.
• Do not use flour, sugar, or baking powder. Flour can explode into a fireball, and sugar fuels the flames.
• Do not swat the flames with a towel or move the pan. Both spread fire and cause severe burns.
• Do not open the oven or microwave if the fire started inside; keep the door closed and turn the appliance off.

When to call for help

Call your local emergency services if the fire does not go out within a few seconds of smothering, if it spreads to anything other than the pan, if smoke fills the room, or if anyone has been burned. For a burn, cool it under cool running water and seek medical care for large, deep, or facial burns, or any burn on a child. Call emergency services for burns that are severe or cover a large area.

What to monitor

After the fire is out, keep the lid on and watch the pan for several minutes. Do not touch the pan or the oil until it has cooled completely. Check that no embers landed on towels, curtains, or cabinets.

How to prevent it

Stay in the kitchen while frying, keep oil below the smoking point, and keep a metal lid within reach. Keep towels and packaging away from the stove, and never heat oil in a pan you are not watching.

This is general safety information, not a substitute for professional advice. In an emergency, call your local emergency services immediately.