Imagine this: you're in your kitchen, cooking up something delicious. Suddenly, the oil in your pan overheats and ignites. Flames leap up, panic sets in, and your first instinct might be to grab water to douse the fire. Stop right there.
Pouring water on an oil fire can turn a dangerous situation into a catastrophe. Here's why: when water hits burning oil, it sinks beneath the oil's surface and instantly vaporizes due to the high heat. This rapid transformation creates a violent steam explosion, spreading the burning oil over a larger area. The result? A bigger fire—and possibly an explosion.
So, what should you do? If it's safe, turn off the heat and cover the pot with a metal lid or baking sheet to cut off the fire's oxygen. If the flames are small and contained, a Class B fire extinguisher (designed for flammable liquids) can be used. Never use water, and if the fire becomes uncontrollable, evacuate and call the fire department immediately.
To help people understand this danger, we’ve developed the Oil Pot Module, which works seamlessly with our Bench and Movable Fire Simulators. It’s a unique training tool that recreates oil fire scenarios, even demonstrating the dramatic effects of pouring water onto a burning pot. This visual, hands-on experience is invaluable for fire safety training, ensuring participants never forget the risks of mishandling an oil fire.
Check out our test video to see the module in action—it’s an eye-opener for anyone looking to enhance their fire safety knowledge. By training with realistic tools like this, you’ll be better prepared to react safely in emergencies.