First, identify the fire as a grease fire. Look for intense flames, thick smoke, loud popping or sizzling noises, and a fire that lasts for more than a few seconds. If you suspect a grease fire, follow these four steps to extinguish it safely. (If you suspect a gas fire, evacuate the area, contact the fire department, and proceed to step three, only if it’s safe to do so. Other types of fires on your grill — such as small flare-ups from burnt food — will often quickly resolve on their own.)
Wirecutter Staff
Step one: Turn off all the equipment
Immediately turn off all equipment. That includes the gas source, if you’re cooking on a gas grill — but only if you can safely reach it without injuring yourself. If it is not safe to do so, promptly call the fire department.
Step two: Smother the fire
With the grill (and any propane tank) turned off, smother the flame. This limits oxygen, a key element that keeps a fire going. There are a few ways to do this. But before you proceed with smothering the fire, remember that if it’s unsafe to retrieve the food, it’s best to leave it in place to avoid injuring yourself while attempting to remove it.
If the fire is not affecting the entire grill body but instead is restricted to the contents inside the pan, use a baking sheet to cover the pan and choke the flames. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) recommends keeping one nearby while grilling.
For larger grill fires, try closing the grill lid. This restricts the flow of oxygen, and it’s recommended by First Alert, a fire protection company.
Closing the grill lid is especially effective with charcoal grills, which are equipped with sealable vents. “In the case of a fire in a charcoal grill, all you have to do is put the lid on and close the top and bottom vents. No oxygen equals no fire,” explained senior staff writer Tim Heffernan, Wirecutter’s resident air-quality expert and co-author of our gas grill guide.
If you have another type of grill, like a gas grill, closing the grill lid alone may not work. “Gas grills have a huge hole in the bottom of the box for the grease to drain out of. Air gets in there, and they don’t have vents that you can close,” Tim said.
If the fire is still active, proceed to step three.
Step three: If necessary, use an ABC fire extinguisher
If a fire starts spreading uncontrollably, immediately extinguish it with an ABC extinguisher (equipped for Class A, B, and C fires). We recommend keeping an ABC extinguisher nearby whenever you’re cooking, including grilling, since these extinguishers are effective against grease and gas fires. If you plan to grill, now is a good time to get a fire extinguisher so you’re prepared.
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Senior staff writer Doug Mahoney, who wrote our fire extinguisher guide, said fire-safety experts agree that Class B extinguishers can effectively extinguish most residential kitchen fires.
Although Class K extinguishers are specifically designed for putting out burning animal fats and cooking grease, they’re primarily meant for tackling commercial-grade fires. “No one I spoke with recommended them for the home; they’re really only for restaurants and places where there is a commercial deep fryer in action,” Doug explained.
Under no circumstances should you use a water extinguisher for cooking-oil fires, since they can make a fire spread without extinguishing it. You also should never dump water onto an active grease fire. According to the NFPA, when water converts from liquid to gas, it expands in volume by 1,600 times; this can cause burning oil to splatter and fire to spread, potentially worsening the situation or injuring those nearby.
Doug also said he advises against buying an aerosol extinguisher over a traditional extinguisher, since they’re not any cheaper and, in some cases, are unreliable. And although Doug’s testing revealed that fire blankets can work, they can also spread a fire or burn your hands if they aren’t used properly. A traditional fire extinguisher would still be the best option.
If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, you may also be able to smother the fire by covering the flame with baking soda or salt. With both substances, you need large amounts for them to be effective. When baking soda is applied generously, it can also help extinguish a small fire by releasing carbon dioxide.
During our gas grill testing, Wirecutter staff writer Kathleen Squires successfully used baking soda to extinguish a grease fire. She said she finds it more intuitive to use than reaching for an extinguisher. “Although, if the fire is large and spreading, a fire extinguisher is the way to go,” she said.
Note that these methods should be your plan B, not your first line of defense. They are less effective than an extinguisher, and you have to keep significant quantities of salt or baking soda on hand.
Step 4: Call the fire department
If a fire continues to rage out of control, or it shows signs of continuing to grow after you’ve tried any of the above methods, immediately seek safety and contact the fire department.
