Leading Causes of Grease Fires in Modern Homes

The most common cause of a grease fire is heating oil past its smoke point. Every oil has a temperature where it starts to break down and release flammable vapors. When those vapors catch fire, the oil itself can ignite quickly. In a modern kitchen, this often happens when you step away to answer the phone or check a message, and the burner stays on high.

You can prevent this by choosing an oil with a higher smoke point for high-heat cooking, such as canola or peanut oil. Keep the heat at a medium or medium-high setting and stay in the kitchen while the oil heats. If you notice the oil shimmering or smoking, turn down the heat immediately and remove the pan from the burner.

Adding water to hot oil causes a violent reaction that can send burning oil splattering across the kitchen. Water is denser than oil and sinks to the bottom, then turns to steam rapidly and erupts, throwing oil into the air. This can cause a small fire to become a large one in seconds.

Never pour water on a grease fire. Instead, turn off the heat and cover the pan with a metal lid or a cookie sheet to cut off the oxygen. If the fire is in the oven, keep the door closed and turn off the heat. For a fire that spreads beyond the pan, get everyone out and call 911.

Using the wrong size pan for the burner can cause oil to overheat. A small pan on a large burner allows heat to escape up the sides, heating the oil unevenly and potentially causing it to ignite. Warped or old pans can also develop hot spots that lead to scorching and fires.

Match the pan size to the burner size, and avoid using pans with damaged or loose handles. Check that your cookware is in good condition and has no cracks or corrosion. Moisture around the stove can cause splattering, so keep the area dry.