When the holidays roll around, fires unfortunately become more common. These fires can be caused by any number of common culprits — candles, smoking, and cooking are a few the most frequent offenders. The latter of these — cooking — can be responsible for some particularly treacherous fires. This is especially true when cooking with grease. Grease is flammable, and if it is overheated, it will eventually catch fire. When this happens, there are a few vital steps that can help contain and extinguish the fire. Read on for more information on putting out a grease fire and preventing it from spreading any further.

Cover the Flames Immediately

As soon as a grease fire emerges, it’s imperative that the flames be covered. A metal implement can be used for this purpose. A metal lid or cookie sheet is often ideal. Though some metals do burn in a fire, most metals are flame-resistant and can sustain high temperatures.

When you hinder flames with metal, the flow of oxygen to the fire is minimized, which can help to prevent it from growing any further. It’s important to leave the cover on the flames until the fire has cooled. Once the flames have been covered, the heat source should then be turned off immediately.

Apply the Best Retardant Solution

With the heat source turned off and the flames covered, an appropriate retardant should then be applied. Of course, if a fire extinguisher is readily available, this should be used immediately. In the absence of a fire extinguisher, though, there are a few household substances that can act as a substitute. Baking soda and salt are both viable solutions that can help to minimize a fire and reduce its intensity.

Baking soda achieves this by releasing carbon dioxide, which cuts off a fire’s oxygen supply. It’s important not to use other substances such as flour or baking powder. These can backfire and actually worsen a fire rather than help it.

Prevent Grease Fires From Happening

It goes without saying that the best defense against grease fires is prevention. It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and overlook common sense cooking precautions, but nobody wants Christmas to end with fire engines outside the house. In order to prevent grease fires, consider the following tips:

• Never leave food unattended while it is cooking
• Don’t cook if you are drowsy or intoxicated
• Keep any flammable items away from cooking
• Turn down heat on grease and oil if it smokes
• Gently add food to oil or grease to prevent splatters

Safety is important year-round, but it’s particularly vital during the holidays when families are gathered to celebrate. Keep your home fire-free by following these tips and practicing common sense.

About Provident Fire Plus

At Provident Fire Plus, we offer custom-tailored packages to best protect firefighters and volunteer firefighters. We understand the risks that emergency response teams are subjected to on a daily basis, and have worked to serve these dedicated professionals for over 87 years. For more information about our products and policies, we invite you to contact our experts today at (855) 201-8880.