Why does pouring water on a kitchen fire make it spread more?
Because most kitchen fires are caused by overheating oil, fat, or grease. Oil and water don’t mix, so when water is poured over a grease fire, it will sink, causing the oil to splatter and the fire to spread throughout your kitchen. The water also turns to steam, which helps carry the burning oil particles that then create an explosive effect. This is how a seemingly harmless flame coming from the kitchen can end up burning the whole house.
If a fire suddenly started in your kitchen, don’t panic. Cover it right away with a lid or a metal pan to cut off its oxygen supply. If that’s not enough, you can also cover it with a large wet towel or smother it with salt or baking soda. The fire extinguisher should be a last resort as it can damage kitchen equipment.
Despite knowing these things, it can be hard to act quickly when a kitchen fire starts, which is why I invested in Ansul systems for my own peace of mind. I know that it can suppress the fire before I even notice that it’s there or if I suddenly froze and didn’t know what to do. It will protect not just my kitchen but my entire home.
