AhaBulbStuff Everyone Should Know
AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/grease-fire

A pan of grease catches fire on the stove. What should you do?

Smother a grease fire with a lid and turn off the burner. Never use water.

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  1. Throw a cup of water on it
  2. Cover it with a lid and turn off the burner ✔
  3. Carry the pan to the sink

Why: Water makes burning grease splash and spreads the fire. A lid cuts off the fire's air, and turning off the burner stops the heat. Baking soda also works on a small grease fire.

Huh, didn't know that: Baking soda also works on a small grease fire.

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References

Answer: Cover it with a lid and turn off the burner. Water makes burning grease splash and spreads the fire. A lid cuts off the fire's air, and turning off the burner stops the heat. Baking soda also works on a small grease fire.

  1. U.S. Fire Administration: Cook Top Fire Safety Tips www.usfa.fema.gov/gallery/pictographs/pictograph34.html
    If a small grease fire starts in a pan, slide the pan lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan.
    Checked 2026-10-09.
  2. U.S. Fire Administration: Kitchen Fires apps.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v4i4.pdf
    reacts violently when poured on hot grease or oil. Small grease fires can be extinguished by placing a cover on the pan or smothering the fire with baking soda.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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