How to Deal with Grease Fires in a Grill

A comprehensive guide on what causes grease fires, how to put out and prevent grease fires in your grill.
By
Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 13, 2023
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Safety is the first thing to consider when operating a grill.  You should consider those around and take safety precautions when handling grills.

Notably, grills are prone to catch fires Trusted Source The Science of Gas Grill Fires | Travelers Insurance What causes a gas grill to catch on fire? We’ll take a look at three of the leading causes, and explore the science behind gas grill fires. www.travelers.com when not inspected during use. Such a fire can be troublesome and wreck the entire homestead, especially when not extinguished at their onset.

There are several ways of preventing grease fires on grills. As much as using grills can be the best experience in cooking, using them comes with responsibilities.

Always keep safe when using energy that is emitted when mixing fuel and flames. Maintaining your grill will also keep it working for long.

Your top priority will be to prevent grease fires; once grease fires start, you will have to use appropriate methods to extinguish them.

How to Prevent Grease Fires on Your Grill

How to Deal with Grease Fires in a GrillGrease fires in grills cause losses if not controlled.

It would be best if you learned how to put out grease fire in grills to enhance the safety of your environment.

Fires damage grills and can harm those around Trusted Source Home Grill Fires
Marty Ahrens
May 2020
US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 10,600 home structure and outdoor fires involving grills per year during 2014–2018. These fires caused an average of 10 civilian deaths, 160 civilian injuries, and $149 million in direct property damage annually. The term grill in this report includes all grills, hibachis, and barbecues. www.nfpa.org
, and cleaning grills are the most common way of preventing these fires. Grills come with drip pans and trays, which are located under the grids.

Grease fires are prone to occur when these pans are full or when the oil is exposed to extremely high temperature. The good thing about grills is that the pans can be removed. Thus, make sure you check these pans, preferable every week and make sure they are in the perfect state.

You should also check the pans twice a week if you don’t use grills regularly. Grills are cleaned with special brushes. Not many brushes can sufficiently clean these appliances.

Furthermore, professionally made brushes are more convenient at cleaning than traditional brushes. Experts recommend the GRILLART Grill Brush as the best tool for cleaning grills. This is a 3 in 1 grill brush that offers seven times faster cleaning than other brushes. It has an 18” non-slip handle for easy gripping.

Cleaning grills is a straightforward process. First, you should do it when the grill is off. Wait for it to completely cool down. Once you are sure that the grill is not hot, remove the drip pan.

Brush off all the grease you find. Debris is also common in pans. Remove all the stains and dispose of them. You should then place the drip pan in warm water and soak it for a while.

A mild soap or detergent is useful for deeper cleaning. Dip an abrasive soap in a basin full of soap or detergent, then wipe the entire pan. Grease can also accumulate around the burners.

As much as the design allows for grease to accumulate on the pan, you will at times notice small chunks on the surface of your burners. Should you find yourself in this situation, it is advisable to turn off the grill and let the grease burn off.

It is also important to note that oxygen starts fires. Therefore, always let your lid down when you cook and leave it there during your cooking.

Another vital thing you should do is to oil food. Applying oil to your grates will start a fire. Please wait for it to dry, then put it back inside the grill.

How to Put Out Grease Fires

How to Deal with Grease Fires in a GrillPutting out grease fires is the next step if your grill starts a fire in the backyard. Equipping yourself with knowledge on dealing with a grease fire in a gas grill will save you the stress of dealing with big fires.

Do not wait until the fire gets overwhelming- eliminate these fires at first sight. Grills are one of the best appliances for cooking and should be well taken care of to avoid fires.

According to most reviews on Amazon, the best propane grill with a removable drip pan is the Napoleon Prestige 500. It is made of stainless steel and has soft control knobs. It also has a heavy-duty Rotisserie kit. This appliance is prone to grease fires if not properly cleaned.

You might not be able to save the food once fires escalate. However, you have the chance of preventing further damage to your grill and your cooking area. You can starve the grill of oxygen when fires start. You will achieve this by covering the grill.

Never use water to extinguish grease fires. The only way to stop grease fires is to starve them of oxygen. Use baking soda or sprinkle salt on top to put out grease fires.

Final Thoughts

Grills are common appliances used in homes; thus, you should know how to prevent and extinguish grease fires in grills.

You should always inspect grills while cooking, as leaving them unattended is likely to result in fires. Ensure grease does not accumulate in the pans and trays.

Furthermore, you should avoid operating your grill in a manner that is likely to start a fire.

Overall, grills should be inspected the same way as other kitchen appliances that deal with fire. However, if fires start, you should follow the necessary steps to extinguish them.

One vital factor that you should always consider is never to use water to extinguish grease fires. Enhance the safety in your grill to make the most out of your cooking.

References

1.
The Science of Gas Grill Fires | Travelers Insurance
What causes a gas grill to catch on fire? We’ll take a look at three of the leading causes, and explore the science behind gas grill fires.
2.
www.nfpa.org
US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 10,600 home structure and outdoor fires involving grills per year during 2014–2018. These fires caused an average of 10 civilian deaths, 160 civilian injuries, and $149 million in direct property damage annually. The term grill in this report includes all grills, hibachis, and barbecues.

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