Water will sink, superheat, and splatter, spreading the fire. Do not use water on a grease fire. Density is the ratio of mass to volume, or how tightly particles are packed together. from a garden hose) only make it worse: the flame grows astronomically and the whole thing gets even hotter. Chemistry. However, attempts to extinguish such a magnesium fire with conventional water (e.g. Call 911. • Use a Class B Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher – In case the fire has got big, use the fire extinguisher as your last resort. Moving the pan could cause the fire to spread, growing faster and stronger. And because water is denser than oil, it sinks right to the bottom of the pan — underneath the grease fire, Dr. Biberdorf explains. but it will become lots of little drops with a lot of surface area. Oil heats up faster than water because it has a lower specific heat capacity. If a grease fire does erupt on your stove, turn off the heat right away. • Pour on Baking Soda – If the fire is contained and small, baking soda will extinguish grease fires. As it reaches past boiling point of water as the water is denser than oil so its at the bottom. First, the grease is heated up on a stove or fire. You’ve likely heard the expression “opposites attract.” That applies to polar molecules: The positive end of a water molecule, for instance, wants to bond with the negative end of another water molecule. best. This water does not dissolve in oil, because we all know oil and water do not mix (And a grease fire is no time to make a vinaigrette!). Flammability is the ability of a combustible material with an adequate supply of oxygen (or another oxidiser) to sustain enough heat energy to keep a fire going after it has been ignited. This thread is archived. One of the most important things to remember is to never pour water onto a grease fire. “It physically flings the grease out of the pan and shoots fire everywhere.”, Picture the steam escaping from a boiling pot of water, she explains. Magnesium powder burns extremely well and reaches temperatures of 2500°C. This quick demonstration, with powdered coffee creamer, demonstrates why there are sometimes terrible explosions in factories that make harmless food like sugar and flour. It only takes minutes for an unattended pot of oil to catch fire, so never turn your back on it! Make Sure The Pan Is Seated Securely Inside The Cooker. Please recognize that a particular tip may not be effective in every circumstance and that taking preventive measures cannot guarantee any outcome. Let’s investigate and dive into the causes and solutions to these smelly water issues. When water turns to steam, it increases in volume about one thousand times. “Essentially, a grease fire will immediately ‘jump’ to any other sources of fuel, which in this case is oil on your counter.”. Water does not extinguish Class B fires and can spread the flammable liquid, making it worse. “Now attach a small fire to every single water vapor molecule. “As the water goes from the liquid state to the gas state, the water vapor molecules leave the pan as fast as possible. And, while drinking in moderation isn’t going to cause you a whole lot of harm… If you do choose to indulge, here are a few things you should know to help you enjoy the day and minimize the effects. Never, ever use water to put a grease fire out. “They literally are doing everything they possibly can to minimize touching.”. Only baking soda and salt will work. Hot water is an even worse idea because heat (as in the temperature kind) can make the burning sensation feel more intense. Smother the fire with a wet towel or other large wet cloth. Grease fires are caused by cooking oil that becomes too hot. Carefully pour a good amount of baking soda onto the grease fire. Pour autoriser Verizon Media et nos partenaires à traiter vos données personnelles, sélectionnez 'J'accepte' ou 'Gérer les paramètres' pour obtenir plus d’informations et pour gérer vos choix. This is the first step to understanding why water makes a grease fire worse, Dr. Biberdorf explains. Water can splash and spread drops of burning oil, making grease fires bigger. ; Call 911.There's no reason to wait, and the fire department can always go back to the station if you are able to get the fire out without help. The most important thing to remember: Never, ever use water to put a grease fire out, as it can make the problem worse. If the fire is small, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the burner. “Their bond is freakishly strong,” Dr. Biberdorf adds. The water isn't turned into an [accelerate]. Nonpolar and polar molecules want nothing to do with each other. Damp Towel. When I fry chicken, I turn the oil temperature up to 365 degrees F, and I expect that your bacon grease is probably that hot. “So it’s going to go from a liquid to a gas in less than a second.”, The water molecules turn to steam. Yahoo fait partie de Verizon Media. You’ve probably heard the expression “oil and water don’t mix.” This is the first step to understanding why water makes a grease fire worse, Dr. Biberdorf explains. One rule: Never try to put it out with water, according to the NFPA. Treat burns only after evacuating the building. Why does my gas grill flare up? An apron, dishtowel, or other flammable fabrics will NOT smother the fire, but may fan or spread it. Plus you’re likely to harm your pellet smoker grill and get things wet that shouldn’t get wet including pellets. NEVER pour baking products on the fire. ELI5: Why does water make a grease fire worse rather than put it out? If a grease fire does erupt on your stove, turn off the heat right away. So, let's take it one step at a time. Hot water, certain skincare products, fragrances, and more may cause atopic dermatitis symptoms to flare up. Never throw water on a grease fire. Fires spread extremely fast and can overwhelm victims in minutes. This causes spattering of the grease at least, and an explosion if its violent enough. “It hits that very hot pan and immediately turns that water into steam and creates the fireball,” Stowe says. We focus on safety and maintenance issues with regard to your home, auto, apartment, motorcycle, boat, small business, finances and more. (see Tips) Start evacuating everyone from the building. Don’t swat at a fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing. Hydrogen is flammable, but oxygen is not. Oil has a density between 0.91 and 0.93 grams per milliliter, Dr. Biberdorf explains, while water has a density of 1. Use a fire extinguisher. Why? Yuck. Don't drink water after eating that spicy pepper. save hide report. Since you realize that oil and water don’t mix and never will (without some chemical help), let’s have some fun with how they repel each other. “I always have a metal or glass lid ready if I’m cooking with grease,” she adds. 70% Upvoted. Grease fires are caused by cooking oil that becomes too hot. Just like water, it creates steam that leads to an explosion of flames. Only damp. Grease fires are very common occurrences. Lean meats and vegetables rarely start a gas grill grease fire. We encourage you to use your own good judgment about what’s appropriate for you and your property and always consider safety. Especially fatty meat. If you should find yourself confronted with a fire of this type, NEVER try to put the fire out by throwing water on it. Author has 187 answers and 701.2K answer views Grease floats in water, so the water will instantly sink to the bottom of the grease, but because of the heat the water evaporates and rises up, carrying with it little droplets of grease that burst into flames as soon as they make contact with the fire. This fire extinguisher contains PKP, which is a dry-chemical fire suppression agent and it’s 4 to 5 times more effective than CO2 and twice as effective as baking soda against class B fires, like grease fires. Be sure the towel is not dripping wet! Life can surprise you with unexpected challenges. Don’t swat at a fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing. The grease begins to overheat, produces smoke, and — before you know it — it catches on fire. And as they do that, they take the grease with them,” she says. If you do ultimately experience a grease fire, turn off the burner, but do not move the pan. Flour and sugar make grease fires worse! “That slight difference in density is enough to make them separate,” she says. A water mist, if very fine, can be used to extinguish grease fires, because the mist does not cause such large splattering, but unless you have a water mist extinguisher, which is doubtful, do not try this. Throw lots of baking soda or salt on it. Most grease fires happen during the holidays, especially Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The following ingredients should NEVER be used to put out a grease fire: Water – will splash back and will spread drops of hot oil, making the fire worst and will injure people standing around. Do not use water. To help prevent the spread of a grease fire, use a damp cloth to wipe your counters before, during and after cooking with oil, Dr. Biberdorf says. Grease Fires - What to Do When They Happen and How to Prevent Them. Most of the time water will extinguish a fire, but there are some situations where water can make a fire worse by spreading it, such as a grease fire on a stove, or a puddle of fuel burning. The answer boils down to basic chemistry, says Kate Biberdorf, Ph.D., a chemistry lecturer and director of demonstrations and outreach for The University of Texas at Austin. In short, the combination of oils, fats, and heat. You’ve started to warm up the grease to sauté some delicious meat or vegetables, and suddenly you get distracted by a phone call or someone ringing the doorbell. - Never touch or attempt to carry a flaming pot. Bottom line: DON'T use water -- it only makes things worse. When the magazine “Popular Science” tried to demonstrate this, they set their cameraman’s gear on fire. 8 comments. Découvrez comment nous utilisons vos informations dans notre Politique relative à la vie privée et notre Politique relative aux cookies. There's no reason to wait, and the fire department can always go back to the station if you are able to get the fire out without help. Get a quick, personalized insurance quote today. Most of the time water will extinguish a fire, but there are some situations where water can make a fire worse by spreading it, such as a grease fire on a stove, or a puddle of fuel burning. I just saw that on Facebook. Throw lots of baking soda or salt on it. View Larger Image; Did you know that today is national Gin and Tonic day? A molecule is polar when it has a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other. Room-temperature or cool water is best as ice water can pose the same potential problems as ice. More cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving and Christmas than any other day. Using water on a grease fire will spread the fire! Smother the fire with a wet towel or other large wet cloth. If the pan seems unsteady, do not use the pan or add water to it until the problem has been resolved. 1. Grease fires, for example, can actually spread faster when doused with water. Oil smokes before it burns, so if you see your pan start to smoke, take it off the heat before it has a chance to catch fire. Here is the deal: Types of food on the grill. Also, never pick up a pan that has flaming contents. Water will make the whole matter much worse. It may be counterintuitive, but water can make a grease fire worse. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. When the aroma of dirt, grime and waste strikes your water supply, the smell can be appalling and insufferable like a busy city street after heavy rainfall. A special fire extinguisher or baking soda should be used to suffocate and stop the spread of grease fires in the kitchen. Soak a towel under the faucet, wring out the excess dripping water, and drape over the burning grease pan to smother it. 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