What to do in a grease fire

Flames in the grill and your hand's already on the lid. Stop. The sources agree on what not to do before they agree on what to do.

This page gives what one pellet grill maker and one fire service say. They don't match on every point, and your own manual has the last word.

Don't use water

Two sources say it in strong terms. A US fire district's page says never to put water on a grease fire, because the water makes the grease splatter and spread the fire in all directions.¹ Wikipedia's fire classification page gives a reason: a solid stream of water can cause the fuel to scatter, spreading the flames.²

Traeger says not to use water or flour to put out a grill fire.³

A pellet grill maker's steps

Traeger's guide is written for its own pellet grills. In order, it says:

1. Don't panic.
2. Unplug the grill.
3. Move the grill away from flammable objects and structures such as your home or garage, but only if that's feasible and safe.
4. Keep the lid closed on both the grill and the hopper.
5. Don't use water or flour. Wait for the fire to burn out.³

If you can't do step three without getting close to the flames, skip it. The words "only if feasible and safe" are in the guide itself.³

Where the sources differ

The fire service page is about a pan or pot on a stove, not a pellet grill. Its advice is to smother the fire by sliding a lid over it, turn off the burner, and keep the lid on until the pan cools completely.¹ Wikipedia says the same in general terms: a lid or a similar solid item is preferred, to seal the burning container off from the air.²

On a pellet grill the lid is already there. Closing it fits both sources, so Traeger's "keep the lid closed" is not a conflict.

Baking soda is a different matter. The fire service page says it may help to suffocate the fire but to be very cautious.¹ Traeger's guide mentions water and flour as things to avoid, and says to wait for the fire to burn out.³ Other makers' manuals may give their own instructions. Read yours before you ever need it.

What not to do

• Don't throw water on it.
• Don't pour flour on it. Traeger names it as something to avoid.³
• Don't carry a burning pan or tray around. The fire service warns that a dropped pan can spread the fire very quickly.¹

After the fire

Let everything cool completely before you touch it. Then clean the grease out, and follow your manual before you light the grill again. Cleaning steps are in a page about grease build-up.

To work out what went wrong, read about the causes of grease fires.

If you can't deal with the fire without putting yourself at risk, step back and call your local emergency number.