Grease fires most often start in the kitchen. That’s where grease or oil on a hot stove, oven or frying apparatus can ignite into a very dangerous fire.  Grease fires are very hot and spread very quickly. They can easily get out of control and spread to wooden cabinets and walls. In addition, the liquid grease can be splashed, carrying the fire to other areas and putting people at risk of injury.

Grease fires are dangerous, but it is sometimes possible to avert the damage by extinguishing the fire while it’s still small. Here are a few tips for handling grease fires.

Prevention is the best cure. First, don’t leave food cooking on a stove unattended.  This is the leading cause of fires caused by cooking, and one of the primary causes of all residential fires.  Stay by the stove, even if you’re just boiling water—you never know when grease on your stovetop or in your oven could heat up enough to ignite.

Don’t use water on grease fires. Water doesn’t extinguish oil fires; instead, it causes the grease or other flammable liquid to splash, spreading the fire and putting you and others at risk of serious injury.  There are other ways to put out a grease fire.

Don’t try to put the fire outside. Sometimes it’s an automatic reaction to try to carry the pot or pan containing the fire outside. This is a bad idea. The movement may cause the liquid fuel to splash everywhere and spread the fire around, and the passing air can also fan it and cause it to grow. In addition, bringing the oil fire outside only puts you at risk of setting trash, plants and your house on fire.

Smother the fire. One of the more effective ways to deal with a gas fire is to rob it of air. If your fire is still small and burning in a pan, cover the pan tightly with a well-fitting lid. Avoid using glass lids, as these can break from the extreme heat of a fire.

Use a fire extinguisher. A Class B fire extinguisher is designed to take care of liquid fires using fuels such as grease and oil, and most residential fire extinguishers come with a multi-use A-B-C rating. Check to make sure you’re using a fire extinguisher with B capabilities before making the attempt; an A or C fire extinguisher may not completely put out the fire.  In addition, bear in mind that fire extinguisher foam can be difficult to clean and may contaminate your kitchen.

Grease fires can be very dangerous—they grow very quickly and can be splashed around, spreading the fire and putting nearby people at risk of injury. However, you can take steps to extinguish the oil fire by smothering it in the pan while it’s still small. Make sure you stay in the kitchen while cooking, and you should be able to prevent grease fires before they grow out of control.