The fat in your frying pan catches fire and burns fiercely. How can you stop the fire safely?

Question

-What fire triangle factor does this remove from the frying pan fire?
-Why do you never put water on a fyring pan fire?

Answer 1

Grease fires float on top of water - and continue to burn. Water tends to spread the flames, too.

Smother it to put it out. (Cut off the source of oxygen)

Answer 2

You've gotten some great answers so far I'll just add maybe just turn down the heat a bit. The greese is catching fire because it's too hot. You can't let it get to hot before you put anything into the pan. Don't put your heat level on high when you are frying .
I almost burned down my kitchen trying to fry some chicken.

Answer 3

The quickest, safest, and easiest way is to put a close-fitting lid on, if the pan has one. This will quickly put out the fire by depriving it of oxygen, and also contain the grease so it doesn't spread. A kitchen fire extinguisher would be my second choice, but careless use of a fire extinguisher can splash grease and spread the fire. Also, the extinguisher is going to make a mess of your stove.

Answer 4

Well, the triangle factors are heat, oxygen, and fuel. What solutions can you think of that remove one or more of those?

If you put water on the fire, note that most cooking fats float. What will this do to the fire? What does water *usually* do to a fire?

Answer 5

Heat+Oxygen+Fuel=Fire

Remove any one, and no fire. Smother it by the lid, baking soda (has lots of CO2);

Water and Oil (fats) don't mix. Throwing water will spread the fats around and the fire with it.


and to prevent future fires- don't deep fry your Turkey. :-)

Answer 6

If possible cut the stove out -
Then cover the pan with something broader -
Never move the pan - Anyway if you pour water into burning oil, the burning oil will strongly react and "jump" on you .

Answer 7

Throw some baking soda on the fire, Putting water on it will only spread the fire.

Answer 8

I would use CO2 fire extinguisher to starve the fire of oxygen. Water may react chemically and release hydrogen and oxygen and thus add to the fire.

Answer 9

Smother the pan with baking soda. It will eliminate the flames almost immediately.

Answer 10

Sand...that is why sand is usually supplied for extinguishing fires. It chokes the oxygen