Ktchen Grease Fire

[cantlogin]

We have allways known that we shouldn't throw water on a grease fire. This short video offers a solution and stresses the point.

http://www.ranaldofamily.com:80/SWF/KitchenOilFire.wmv

[TromboneAl]

Effective ad. I'd prefer using a fire extinguisher.

[Khan]

My parents told me of neighbors that had a grease fire. One of the family members moved the pan to the counter, where it melted the counter and set fire to the cabinets. The father, who was not at home during the happenings, found it difficult to talk to those involved, without swearing, for several weeks.

[ERD50]

That was very good. Even though I *know* I'm not supposed to throw water on a grease fire, would I remember in an emergency? I'm not so sure.

Seeing the (dramatic!) result probably etched it in my mind more than hearing it said 1,000 times. Thanks for the link, I am going to show it to my family.

T-Al, I wonder if the spray from an extinguisher wouldn't also tend to spread the fire by splashing? The wet rag, or a pot cover seems safer. I thought the wet rag was a great idea, I always heard throw flour on it (or was it sugar?). Hmmm, flour dust is flammable, but that small amount might be OK.

-ERD50

[Khan]

Household hint:

If you set fire to dinner, put it out with baking soda. That way it's still edible.

[TromboneAl]

As long as the fire extinguisher has a B rating, it should be OK. I'd just rather not get close enough to the fire to use the other tricks.

When I worked in a cafeteria there was once a medium sized grease fire. Several people were panicking, but one guy just picked up the CO2 extinguisher, and it was all over in a second.

I had a small oven fire (roasting almonds) once, and I hesitated to use my dry chemical extinguisher, because I didn't want to clean up the mess. Luckily, closing the oven made the fire go out.

So I went to the fire extinguisher store and asked for a CO2 extinguisher. Sales guy explained that the dry chemical extinguisher is better suited to the kitchen application and is more general. The chemical isn't too toxic or hard to clean up.

So I have a good quality hose-equipped ABC extinguisher in the kitchen, away from the stove. Note that the ones with all plastic nozzle parts can't be refilled.

[calmloki]

Bad for the environment, and prone to causing death from lack of oxygen to those who displace the breathing air with it.... But i love Halon. NO residue, doesn't crud up the extinguisher valve, so an extinguisher becomes multi-use (thrrrrifty), works right now! Used to play with gasoline fires at the import shop - managed not to burn down the shop. You know the show American Body Shop? I worked with those guys. Heck - i was some of those guys.