The kitchen is where most home fires in India begin, and it is also where panic does the most damage. Throw the wrong thing on the flames and a small fire becomes a big one. Here is how to handle the three kinds of kitchen fire you are most likely to face, and the single mistake to never make.
The one rule: never pour water on an oil or gas fire
Water and hot oil do not mix. Pour water on a burning pan and the oil splashes, the flames leap up, and you can be badly burned. The same goes for electrical fires, where water can carry a shock. Water is only for ordinary fires like paper, cloth or wood.
How to put out an oil or cooking fire
- Turn off the gas or heat source if you can reach it safely.
- Cover the pan with a metal lid or a fire blanket to smother the flames.
- Leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool. Lifting it early lets oxygen back in.
- Do not try to carry a burning pan to the sink or outside.
How to handle a gas or LPG fire
- If it is safe, turn off the regulator at the cylinder.
- Do not switch electrical points on or off near a gas leak.
- Smother small flames with a fire blanket; for anything bigger, get everyone out and call 101.
Good habits prevent most of these. Our guide to LPG cylinder safety covers them in detail.
How to deal with an electrical fire in the kitchen
- Switch off the power at the mains if you can do it safely.
- Never use water. A dry powder extinguisher or an automatic fire ball is the right tool.
- If the fire has spread, leave and call the fire brigade.
The easiest protection: let it handle itself
In a real fire you have seconds, and panic makes people forget every rule above. An automatic fire extinguisher ball placed near the stove removes the guesswork. It activates on contact with flame and puts the fire out in 3 to 10 seconds, with no action from you. See how it works in our guide to the automatic fire extinguisher ball, or view the FireXross range from ₹999.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put out a kitchen oil fire with water?
No. Water makes an oil fire worse and can cause serious burns. Smother it with a lid or fire blanket instead.
What is the best way to put out a small cooking fire?
Turn off the heat and cover the pan with a metal lid or fire blanket to cut off the oxygen.
What should I keep in my kitchen for fire safety?
A fire blanket, a dry powder extinguisher, and an automatic fire extinguisher ball placed near the stove are a strong, simple combination.
