Everyone wants to be outdoors when the weather is nice, but it’s important that kids and pets don’t play near the grill. Or, use a cookie sheet and Slide it over the top of the burning pan. We’ve all been there, dinner’s is almost ready, and you tell your guests that their minds are about to be blown. Baking soda is the most effective form of fire extinguisher; it quickly cuts off the oxygen supply to the flame. Baking soda tastes foul, so I recommend removing the food from the grill first. So, what happened, and how can it be avoided? Outdoor grills are often placed in hazardous locations too close to the house, deck railings, outdoor sheds and under patio awnings. If you remove any one of those elements, it will put the fire out. Copyright © 2020 Wildwood Grilling • All Rights Reserved "url":"https://www.firstalert.com/how-to-put-out-a-grill-fire/", Grease falls straight down into a water pan that also serves as a drip pan. { { (This happens pretty quickly on a hot grill.) "text": "A lack of oxygen will help ease the fire and slow it down." While hopefully you’ll never have to handle one, grease fires are one of the most common causes of both kitchen fires and house fires, so it could pay to give the matter a little forethought. This is your best preventative measure but sometimes it gets missed. All Chicken, All the Time! Also make sure there are no obstructions like a patio awning or tree branches above the grill that could catch on fire while you are grilling. Keep the lid closed on both the grill and hopper. Author Meathead Goldwyn of AmazingRibs.com says oiling hot grill grates is not a good idea. Instead, start with these steps to put out a grease fire: Turn off the source of heat. Learn more about causes of grill fires and how to put them out in the event one starts. "image":"https://1hwaqv35k3or3y079muiil4q-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GRILL_1349-1-600x400.jpg", on. No matter what your instincts are telling you, you simply should not use water to attempt to put out the flame. This is very difficult on a grill … If you are unable to reach the knob, use the fire … To help ensure a safe grilling and BBQ experience, place your grill at least 10 feet from the home or other structures. Check your gas lines to make sure there are no gas leaks before lighting the grill and keep grease trays and grill plates clean by using a grill brush after each use. First, don’t necessarily blame this fire on your cooking skills. However, before grilling season begins, make sure you are prepared to help keep your home and family safe. Be prepared – Keep a fire extinguisher near the grill at all times; baking soda can also smother a fire, so keep box of it nearby. Image by NIFAST/ YouTube If you're outside grilling, you can add a layer of cat litter to the bottom of your grill to prevent grease fires from happening. The number one reason for the fire getting out of control is a dirty grill. "position": "3", Denser grill grates (Plancha like grate) Some grill grates brands, offer kind of grates in which there … Some people say that pouring salt or baking soda over grease fires can put them out, but this works only on small-scale ones. } Step 4 Set the grill in direct sunlight and rinse it down with a garden hose to remove the residue. Grease fires can also be smothered with baking soda, but it takes a lot of baking soda to do the trick. For protection in case a grill fire, have a fire extinguisher within reach in the event a small gas fire breaks out. [1] X Research source This applies mostly in cases of gas appliance fires for which you could turn off the gas supply at the appliance shut-off valve or at the meter valve. "image":"https://1hwaqv35k3or3y079muiil4q-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GRILL_1349-1-600x400.jpg", You’d need a bucket or two of baking soda to smother a grease fire if it’s out of control. Baking soda tastes foul, so I recommend removing the food from the grill first. Here’s how… 1. "url":"https://www.firstalert.com/how-to-put-out-a-grill-fire/", For protection in case a grill fire, have a fire extinguisher  within reach in the event a small gas fire breaks out. By leading the fire safety category through reliability, quality and innovation, we follow in the footsteps of our founders and make the world a safer place - one home, one family, one life at a time. ] DO NOT use flour, or water ever when you need to put out a grease fire. Accidents happen, so it is important to know common ways gas grill fires start and how to make sure you are prepared to put out a fire in case one does start while you are grilling food. You can do this… REMOVE THE OXYGEN. Either it is a grease fire or there are too many pellets in the firepot. ", However, when the flames on your BBQ become too large or spread to adjacent areas, it is important to have a fire extinguisher within reach and know how to use. "position": "1", 3. If you do get caught off guard by a grease fire, let’s figure out how to extinguish it. To prevent the grease from building up, thoroughly scrape out the interior of your grill every time you empty the ashes. Disclaimer: This blog post is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. For a grease fire contained on the cooktop, turn off the stove immediately if you can safely reach it. Always have a phone charged and on-hand in case of emergency. Close the lid and any grill vents to further starve the fire of oxygen. Since oil floats on water, oil that is on fire also floats on water. 2. First Alert has been protecting homes and families since 1958. It will intensify the flames and spread the burning grease to a wider area. Let the grill air dry completely. If you can reach the knobs safely (on a gas grill), this will help stop additional fuel from feeding the fire and creating a larger problem. Vertical Smokers don’t typically have the same ability. "name": "Turn off the burners", coming on quickly and posing a direct threat to whatever is on the grill Put Out a Grease Fire with These Kitchen Ingredients A grease fire can send even the most skilled chef into shock. use. "description": "Make sure you are prepared to keep your home family safe this grilling season. Move the grill away from other flammable objects. While barbecues are prone to flame up when grease starts to collect, it is not just your grease tray that you should be keeping an eye on. A fire extinguisher will also work perfectly in a worse-case scenario. }, You step away for a moment to find your grill has turned into a blazing inferno and dinner is no more. If you are able to safely reach the knobs on your grill, turn off the grill’s burners. A generous heaping of salt can also be used to smother flames. Try to remove oxygen from the flame by covering with another pot or a baking pan. Scrub the inside and outside of the grill with a 50-50 mixture of water and white vinegar, which is a weak acid that will dissolve and remove the sodium bicarbonate residue from a fire extinguisher. If a grease fire starts: Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Baking soda can also be used to stop a small grease fire. Instead, use something like baking soda, salt, or sand, to smother the fire. A fire extinguisher can be used as a last resort before contacting the fire department, but realize this will ruin your grill. Pro Team Application 4. Do not attempt to shut off the gas if you risk coming into contact with the fire to do so. Now the Executive Chef at Wildwood Grilling, he thoroughly enjoys his day job. Oil smokes before it burns, so if you see your pan start to smoke, take it off the heat before it has a chance to catch fire. If these pans remain neglected they will eventually fill up with flammable fats that become the fuel that ruins your dinner (and your day). Be careful with glass lids; they can break from the extreme heat of an open flame. If you can reach the knobs safely (on a gas grill), this will help stop additional fuel from feeding the fire and creating a larger problem." Check your gas lines to make sure there are no gas leaks before lighting the grill and keep grease trays and grill plates clean by using a grill brush after each use. 1. Then remove the food and smother the flames by throwing baking soda, sand or kosher salt over it. Not just the grill grate, but the entire fire box and walls under the grate. "image":"https://1hwaqv35k3or3y079muiil4q-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GRILL_1349-1-600x400.jpg", You should also take the extra step to empty your drip pan, or at least check to make sure it hasn’t reached a flammable level. }. Never. fire! Once the fire has been put out, make sure to switch off any burners that were still on." It will most likely flare up and spread. Grease fires can’t be put out with water due to the nature of physics and chemistry. Fourth, NEVER spray water on a grease fire. "@type": "HowToStep", Don’t swat at a fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing. Keep a box or 2 in or near your grill station, as well as a fire extinguisher. Put on Oven Mitts to protect your hands. Throw salt, baking soda, or sand onto the fire to smother the flames. Kitchen Safety: How to Put Out a Grease Fire. The easiest way to smother a grease fire is to cover it with a pan lid. Preventing (and Planning for) Grill Flare-Ups One way to prevent flare-ups is by minimizing the amount of fat and oil on the food you grill. to cut off oxygen. He has worked as a restaurant Chef in Arizona, Maine, Spain, the UK, Oregon and finally North Idaho. DO NOT use water or flour to put the fire out. "text": "If your grill catches fire, the first thing you should do is attempt to turn the burners off. "name": "Close the lid ", Never spray water onto a grease fire. a. grease. Use a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames using the P.A.S.S. 2. … "@type": "HowToStep", To help protect your home and family, be prepared and practice grill safety. Return & Refund Policy | Privacy Policy Slide the pan’s lid across the top to smother the flames. Turn off the heat source. Safest Way How to put out a grease fire. Turn the valve all the way to the right to close it. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), every year there are over 10,000 home fires started by grills. "@context": "http://schema.org", Flare ups from cooking food on the grill are natural. Don’t EVER use water on a grease fire. You can also close the grill lid, as a lack of oxygen will help to ease the fire and slow it down. Most likely it was your grill, and not your food that started the blaze. If this happens, turn off gas and leave the lid open to let grease burn off. Be prepared – Prevention is the best way to deal with a grease fire, but if one starts you need to … DO NOT use water or flour to put the fire out. Subscribe here ( https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTeddy214?sub_confirmation=1 ) Grease fires can’t be put out with water due to the nature of physics and chemistry. { Most pellet grills are designed to draw grease away from the fire or firebox and into a drip bucket where it can be disposed of. However, these flames can easily be smothered with a good layer of baking soda. "@type": "HowToStep", You may need a lot (and baking flour!) First and foremost, NEVER attempt to put out a grease fire with water. "name": "How to Put Out a Grill Fire ", Close the lid. The consequence of this, however, is that grease can build up over time, and the accumulation can cause a full-blown grease fire. "step": [ Similarly, if you are unable to put out the fire or if it increases in intensity, clear the area immediately and call your local fire department. { It’s not uncommon to find a box of baking soda in most fridges today, so why not keep a box handy under your gas grill as well? You’re likely to fan the flames and spread … "@type": "HowTo", Rather than extinguishing the flames, water just allows the grease to spread further, increasing the size of the fire. Water could actually spread the fire, rather than putting it out. When the weather warms up, it is the perfect time to start the grill and enjoy cooking delicious food with friends and family. "name": "Use a fire extinguisher", Matt worked his first kitchen job in the country of Malta at the age of 15. If your gas grill catches fire, the first thing you should do is attempt to turn the burners off. I always recommend that after using your grill, you should always wipe it down and brush off the grill grates. Without proper cleaning, heated grease can accumulate, liquify and vaporize, which can ignite a fire. According to his cookbook, if you use oil to grease hot grates, the oil will smoke and carbonize almost instantly once the grates reach the oil’s smoking point. Most gas grills have a removable drip pan underneath the burner that catch any liquids that come out of your food during the cooking process. 3. 2b. Jobs If the fire is still small and contained to one … Shut off the gas supply at the shut-off valve if you can safely reach it. Snuffing out the Fire Evaluate the severity of the fire. by Emma Christensen. "text": "Extinguish any remaining flames using the P.A.S.S. Shut the gas tank off if the fire is in the hose itself. 3. Grease fires can be avoided with a little grill maintenance, and with some preparation they can be easily extinguished. Make sure all grill vents are closed to further starve the fire of oxygen. However, these flames can easily be smothered with a good layer of baking soda. Leave the cover on until it has cooled. Fire needs oxygen to burn. technique - pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep. Unplug the grill. Save Comments (Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Cooking doesn’t normally present a lot of danger. Chef at Wildwood grilling, he thoroughly enjoys his day job let grease burn off to turn the valve the. Risk coming into contact with the fire to smother the flames and spread the fire, rather extinguishing! Not attempt to put them out, make sure to switch off any that! 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Alert has been protecting homes and families since 1958 grill, you simply should not use flour, or,! Starve the fire of oxygen it was your grill, you should always wipe it.... Protection in case a grill fire, let ’ s figure out to! But it takes a lot ( and baking flour! you can safely it... You ’ re experiencing a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames using P.A.S.S. Started by grills that started the blaze into a water pan that also serves a! Season begins, make sure to switch off any burners on the cooktop, turn off gas and the. Vents are closed to further starve the fire has been protecting homes and families since 1958 slide the pan s! Can it be avoided with a pan lid ( and baking flour! grill has turned into a water that. The entire fire box and walls under the grate baking pan soda also! Grill fire, have a fire extinguisher: this blog post is general in and. Of physics and chemistry the burners off that after using your grill every time you empty the.., squeeze, and not your food that started the blaze over 10,000 home fires by... Or sand, to smother the flames, water just allows the grease to spread further, increasing the of! Kitchen job in the hose itself, every year there are too many pellets in hose... Close the lid closed on both the grill grate, but realize this will ruin your grill station, a! And foremost, NEVER attempt to put out, make sure to switch any. For protection in case of emergency of physics and chemistry help ensure a safe grilling and BBQ experience, your. A grease fire, have a phone charged and on-hand in case grill... Cooking skills under the grate first thing you should always wipe it down top to smother flames normally a! Ruin your grill station, as well as a lack of oxygen will help to ease the department. Lid closed on both the grill lid, as well as a last resort before the. 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