Cooking is the leading cause of house fires in most countries, and the correct response to a pan fire is counter-intuitive enough that it needs knowing in advance.
Never Put Water on Burning Oil
The single most important thing in this article.
Water is denser than oil, so it sinks straight through to the bottom of the pan. There it instantly flashes to steam, expanding hundreds of times in volume, and that expansion throws the burning oil upward and outward across the room.
The result is a fireball. People are seriously injured this way every year, and it is the reflex response.
Overheated Pans
An empty pan on a high burner reaches damaging temperatures within a couple of minutes, and oil left heating unattended reaches its smoke point and then its flash point.
Guidance built around medium heat rather than maximum, of the kind at cooker-king.net, exists partly for this reason.
What to Do Instead
- Turn off the heat if you can reach the control safely
- Cover the pan with a lid or a fire blanket to cut off oxygen
- Leave it covered and do not move the pan
- Let it cool completely, which takes far longer than expected
- If it is not immediately and safely controllable, get out and call the fire service
Never carry a burning pan anywhere. Never use a wet cloth. Never use a damp tea towel.
Prevention
Never leave cooking unattended, which is the cause of most kitchen fires.
Never fill a pan more than about a third when deep frying, since food displaces oil and it foams violently.
Never put wet or frozen food into hot oil.
Keep tea towels, packaging and kitchen roll away from the hob. Keep handles turned inward so nothing catches them.
Grease Buildup
Accumulated grease on an extractor hood, its filter and the surrounding surfaces is itself fuel.
Cleaning the hood filter regularly is a fire-prevention measure rather than housekeeping.
Have a Fire Blanket
Cheap, wall-mounted near the kitchen door rather than beside the hob, so it can be reached without going past the fire.
Smoke Alarms
Tested monthly, and positioned so cooking steam does not cause constant false alarms, since a disabled alarm is worse than none.
Know Your Exit
A plan for getting everybody out is worth more than any equipment.
Do Not Reheat a Fire-Damaged Pan
Retire anything that has been in a fire.