How to Handle a Grease Fire in Your Commercial Kitchen

When running a commercial kitchen, there's a lot of grease involved. This poses a risk for grease fires if you're not careful. Thousands of restaurants report fires each year. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that these fires cause an average of $246 million in property damage. A major fire can ruin a business and lead to a lot of lost revenue. The majority of restaurant kitchen fires begin when flammable cooking material, such as oil and grease, ignite. Today's blog from Fast Fix LLC discusses how to handle a grease fire, as well as some prevention tips.

How to Put Out a Grease Fire


The most important thing to remember when a grease fire occurs in your commercial kitchen is not to use water. For small kitchen fires, start by turning off the heat source. Then attempt to remove all the oxygen that's fueling the fire. This can be accomplished by covering it with another pot or baking pan. If you are unable to cover the fire, dump baking soda on top of it. In some cases, where the fire is blazing, you may need to use a fire extinguisher. However, be careful doing so. You need to stand back far enough away from the fire. Shooting anything pressurized at the fire will spread it. Using a fire extinguisher to starve the fire may take longer than you would expect, so be patient and try to stay calm. In the event the fire gets out of control, get out and make sure all your fellow kitchen staff gets out as well. Then call 911 to get the fire department out there.

Preventing Grease Fires

Try to avoid grease fires in your commercial kitchen by following these safety and prevention tips:

  • Make fire safety a regular part of your training process. 
  • Train your staff on how to maintain a kitchen that's free of fire hazards. 
  • Ensure your restaurant has fire extinguishers that are tested, maintained and easily accessible. 
  • Make sure all staff know where the fire extinguishers are located, and how to replace them. 
  • A fire-suppression system should also be installed to automatically dispense chemicals to stop the fire. 
  • Ensure all employees clean up any grease spills immediately. 
  • Never a heating pan of grease or oil unattended. Keep a close eye on it. 
  • If you see wisps of smoke or smell something acrid, immediately turn down the heat or remove the pan from the heat. 
  • Clean your ventilation system regularly to avoid grease buildup from blocking the vents and preventing air flow. 
  • Schedule a regular hood cleaning. Professional cleaning & inspection will ensure everything is working properly, which will keep your kitchen from becoming too hot. 
  • Fire codes call for quarterly inspections of systems in high-volume operations.

If your fire was the result of the combination of grease and faulty equipment, give Fast Fix LLC a call at 573-544-0456. We are here for all your Missouri restaurant equipment repair and maintenance needs. From ovens and fryers to refrigeration and HVAC, we're here to keep your kitchen up and running, efficiently. In addition, we can inspect your equipment after a fire to ensure it's still able to work properly and efficiently.

Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Equipment Service & Repair - 

One Call Does It All! 


Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Services
9403 County Road 154
Auxvasse, MO 65231

Phone: 573-544-0456
St. Louis Customers: 636-FASTFIX
Website: www.FastFixLLC.com

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Location: Auxvasse, MO 65231, USA

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