How to put out a grease fire
If oil catches fire while you pan-fry fish, switch off the burner and cover the pan with its metal lid or a sheet pan, sliding it on from the side. Keep it covered until the pan is cold. Water and carrying the pan are both off limits. A tiny flame can be smothered with lots of baking soda or salt. If fire climbs out of the pan, leave, shut the kitchen door and dial 911.
About 10 minutes to learnSafety critical: tightly scoped, know when to call a professional
Mark it once you can do it without this page open.
How to do it
- Stay at the stove whenever you fry, with a lid that fits the pan close at hand.
- If the oil starts to smoke heavily, turn off the heat before it can ignite.
- If it ignites, shut off the burner from the front of the stove, never reaching across the fire.
- Cover the pan with a metal lid or baking sheet, sliding it on from the side to cut off the air.
- Keep it covered and leave the pan in place until it is cool to the touch.
- On a small flame only, throw on handfuls of baking soda or salt, never flour or sugar.
- If the fire grows, get everyone out, close the kitchen door behind you, and call 911 from outside.
Stop and call a professional if
- Call 911 for any fire that spreads beyond the pan, reaches cabinets or fills the room with smoke.
- Call 911 even after a small fire if anyone is burned or breathed in smoke.
- Take a certified class in first aid and CPR: this page is a refresher, not training or certification.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number, 911 in the US. Take a certified class to practice this with an instructor.
Common mistakes
- Throwing water on burning oil, which makes the fire erupt.
- Carrying the burning pan outside or to the sink.
- Lifting the lid to check too soon, which lets air back in.
- Using flour, which can burn itself.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to put out a grease fire
What to say
If oil catches fire while you pan-fry fish, switch off the burner and cover the pan with its metal lid or a sheet pan, sliding it on from the side. Keep it covered until the pan is cold. Water and carrying the pan are both off limits. A tiny flame can be smothered with lots of baking soda or salt. If fire climbs out of the pan, leave, shut the kitchen door and dial 911.
What to show, in order
- Stay at the stove whenever you fry, with a lid that fits the pan close at hand.
- If the oil starts to smoke heavily, turn off the heat before it can ignite.
- If it ignites, shut off the burner from the front of the stove, never reaching across the fire.
- Cover the pan with a metal lid or baking sheet, sliding it on from the side to cut off the air.
- Keep it covered and leave the pan in place until it is cool to the touch.
- On a small flame only, throw on handfuls of baking soda or salt, never flour or sugar.
- If the fire grows, get everyone out, close the kitchen door behind you, and call 911 from outside.
When to stop and call a professional
- Call 911 for any fire that spreads beyond the pan, reaches cabinets or fills the room with smoke.
- Call 911 even after a small fire if anyone is burned or breathed in smoke.
- Take a certified class in first aid and CPR: this page is a refresher, not training or certification.
The check question
Ask: Oil in the pan catches fire. What is the first thing you do?
Related skills
- How to use a fire extinguisher
- How to treat a minor burn
- How to grill on gas or charcoal
- Every skill in First Aid and Emergencies
Words on this page
Sources
- National fire safety guidance on cooking fires, current edition. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .