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How To Prevent and Clean Up After a Grease Fire

Kitchen Grease Fire

4 min read

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires in the United States. Grease fires have been identified as a significant culprit among all of these kitchen accidents.

As a common hazard in the kitchen, seemingly minor incidents can quickly flare up and cause significant damage if not appropriately managed. In many cases, fire damage restoration in Oak Harbor may be necessary to reverse the damage caused.

While handling grease is unavoidable in the kitchen, there are ways to prevent a grease fire and secure your property. Below, we share useful tips on how to prevent grease fires in your kitchen as well as what you need to do while cleaning up after an incident.

Preventing Grease Fires

Whether you’re a home cook or a chef in a commercial kitchen, maintaining a safe cooking environment should always be a priority to protect your property from fire damage. The following are simple steps you can take to minimize the chances of a grease fire igniting inside your kitchen.

  • Implement Proper Temperature Control When Cooking with Fats: Different types of oils can have different smoke points, which are temperatures at which oils produce smoke and can ignite.
  • Always Pay Attention to What You’re Cooking: Never leave the stove unattended, especially when cooking with high heat and/or oils.
  • Avoid Overcrowding the Surface to Prevent Spillage: Splattering can also occur, which increases the chance of a grease fire.
  • Keep Flammable Objects Away from the Cooking Surface: These include paper towels, oven mitts, dish towels, and curtains.
  • Clean and Maintain Cooking Equipment: This includes the stovetop, oven, and other cooking equipment to eliminate grease accumulating on these surfaces.
  • Use Proper Cooking Tools: Avoid using tools that catch fire quickly.
  • Keep A Lid and Baking Soda Ready: This is to smother grease if it catches fire.
  • Use A Splatter Guard: When cooking with grease and oils, use a splatter guard to prevent them from splattering on every surface and minimize the risk of grease fires.

Cleaning Up After a Grease Fire

A grease fire inside your kitchen is always a terrifying ordeal. However, once the flames have been extinguished, addressing the resulting damage is vital to restoring your property to its pre-fire state. Aside from fire restoration in Oak Harbor, the following are steps to clean up after a grease fire effectively.

  • Assess the damage and verify that all fires have been extinguished completely.
  • Wear protective gear like gloves, goggles, and a mask to protect yourself from soot, smoke damage, and potential chemicals.
  • Remove all burnt debris from the scene immediately and dispose of them properly immediately.
  • Clean all affected surfaces immediately. Use appropriate cleaning agents to effectively clear away grease fire damage while protecting the surface material.
  • If grease residue remains on the surface, apply a degreaser to remove it completely.
  • Make sure all affected fabrics, such as kitchen towels, curtains, and tablecloths, are washed to clear away smoke and soot damage.
  • Clean your air events to eliminate residue in the ventilation system.
  • Once the area has been thoroughly cleaned, follow up with odor-neutralizing substances like baking soda or activated charcoal to absorb and eliminate odors.

Request Assistance From Professionals in Fire Damage Restoration in Oak Harbor

Understanding what to do when faced with a grease fire can spell the difference between a minor incident and a major disaster. However, proper handling and implementing measures to prevent grease fires are still the best ways to minimize the risk of a grease fire on your property.

Unfortunately, accidents can still happen. All it takes is a minor mishap to escalate into an even bigger problem. When this happens, you can rely on experts in fire restoration in Oak Harbor to restore your home’s pristine condition.

When it comes to fire damage restoration in Oak Harbor, property owners can turn to Restoration 1 for fast and efficient service. We offer 24/7 assistance for all forms of fire damage. Get in touch with us today to learn more.

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