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Raleigh Fire Chief Herbert Griffin
Fire Chief Herbert Griffin answers your questions about the Raleigh Fire Department, just ask.
Question: What should I do if a grease fire starts on my stove while I'm cooking?
Answer: The number one cause of fires within the City of Raleigh is unattended cooking. Our department responded to:
- 196 cooking fire incidents 2020
- 216 cooking fire incidents 2021
- 187 cooking fire incidents 2022
- 133 cooking fire incidents so far in 2023
The most important thing to remember when faced with a grease fire is to never, ever use water to extinguish it as that can make the situation worse. Adding water to a hot pan of oil will create a volatile effect that can cause fire to escape the pan and create exposure issues. Instead, keep a lid or a baking sheet near the stove when you’re cooking so you can smother a small fire before it grows. Next, turn the burner off and leave the pan covered until completely cooled.
You can also use a Class B fire extinguisher. Stand back about 5 feet from the fire and apply the PASS method of Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep to extinguish the fire.
These helpful tips can help eliminate grease fires. Stay safe!