What To Do If Your Restaurant Kitchen Catches On Fire

12/10/2019 (Permalink)

A fire in a restaurant kitchen can happen in an instant with little to no warning. If a fire starts, you will need to act fast to keep it from getting out of control, putting your staff and your patrons at risk. Take stock of what kind of fire you have and where it is located in your kitchen area. Here are a few tips on what to do if your restaurant kitchen catches on fire:

• If it’s a fire in the oven, close the door immediately and turn off the oven. Leave the door closed! Lack of oxygen will suffocate the flames. 
• If the oven continues to smoke and you think the fire may have continued, call the fire department right away. 
• When it is a fire in a cooking pan or pot, use your oven mitt to put the lid on right away, and move it off the burner. Turn off the stove and wait for the lack of oxygen to stop the flames inside your pot. 
• If you are not able to safely put the lid on the flaming pan, or if there is no lid readily available, use your fire extinguisher. Always aim at the base of the fire, not the flames themselves. 
• Never use water to put out a grease fire! Water repels grease and can spread the fire by splattering the grease. Try one of these methods instead:

• If the fire is small, put on the lid and turn off the burner.
• Throw lots of baking soda on it. Do not use flour; it can explode or make the fire even worse. 
• Smother the fire with a wet towel or other large, wet cloth. 
• Use a fire extinguisher. 
• Swatting the fire with a towel, apron, or other material is likely to fan the flames and spread the fire. 
• If the fire is spreading and you don’t have control, get every person out of the building and call emergency services. 

For cleanup after any type of fire, the SERVPRO team of Belle Meade/West Nashville is here to help. We can be on-site with all the necessary equipment and skill right away to get you back in business as soon as possible.