{"id":2800,"date":"2024-03-01T09:55:58","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T09:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safelincs.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2800"},"modified":"2025-02-12T16:24:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T16:24:34","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-cooking-oil-fires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safelincs.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/03\/01\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cooking-oil-fires\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about cooking oil fires"},"content":{"rendered":"

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According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),<\/a>\u00a0cooking equipment is the leading cause of house fires, with unattended cooking being the primary culprit. Cooking oil fires, in particular, pose a unique challenge due to the intensity and rapid spread of the flames.<\/p>\n

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Cooking oil fires are difficult to extinguish if you don\u2019t have the right equipment at hand. The powerful jet of some fire extinguishers could spread the oil fire. Using water to extinguisher oil fires can cause the fire to erupt violently. Therefore, it is important to have the correct equipment to tackle kitchen fires<\/p>\n\n\n

Tackling Cooking Oil Fires at Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How to put out a Cooking Oil Fire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pan fires can be tackled with fire blankets and fire extinguishers<\/a>. A water mist fire extinguisher is versatile, and therefore can tackle all types of kitchen fire including fires involving electrical equipment up to 1000 volts. A fire blanket is a good option for most<\/em><\/strong> domestic kitchens, as generally smaller amounts of oil are used. A fire blanket is placed over the pan fire to smother it and starve the fire from oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For larger deep fat fryers in your home, we would recommend a wet chemical fire extinguisher<\/a> which holds a 25F rating. The wet chemical extinguisher is made specifically for tackling larger quantities of oil on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to put a Kitchen Fire Extinguisher<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the case of cooking oil fires, having a fire extinguisher within easy reach can be a lifesaver. Mount the extinguisher in a visible and easily accessible location, away from the stove but still within close proximity to the cooking area. We recommend placing your fire extinguisher near the kitchen exit, ensuring a quick and unobstructed path to safety. Avoid placing it too close to potential fire hazards, such as curtains or wooden cabinets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tackling Cooking Oil Fires at Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you work in a commercial kitchen with deep fat fryers, a wet chemical kitchen fire extinguisher<\/a> is usually recommended. Wet chemical fire extinguishers are specifically designed to put out cooking oil fires and therefore should be kept in kitchens for commercial use. The wet chemical fire extinguisher forms a foam blanket on top of the oil which stops the supply of oxygen, therefore extinguishing the fire. Fire blankets are also a useful addition in a commercial kitchen as they can be used on pan fires, cooking oil fires, waste basket fires and also clothing fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do in a Kitchen Fire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n