“If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Fire drives nearly everything that we do in the kitchen. From sautéing to baking, fire is the crucial element that makes a kitchen run smoothly. But what happens if a cooking fire gets out of hand? The good news is, there are simple ways that you can protect your kitchen and ensure that the fire remains where you want it. 

1. Provide your employees with the proper training

All of your employees should have the training they need to quickly and confidently deal with fires. Training can include anything from how to use a fire extinguisher to put out small fires to safely evacuating restaurant patrons. 

Make sure to also provide them with the training on how to prevent a fire in the first place. Do they know how and where to store cooking oils so they don’t catch fire? Do they know how to safely sauté with alcohol? Are they cleaning up their messes correctly and frequently to reduce fire risk? When employees maintain safe work practices, they can prevent a large number of fires before they even happen.

2. Clean up any grease in the kitchen 

Keeping your kitchen clean is a critical aspect of fire safety. Grease is highly flammable, and any grease buildup is literally fuel for the fire. Make sure to implement a consistent and thorough cleaning schedule to remove all of the built-up grease from kitchen surfaces and from inside your hood suppression system.

3. Remove fire hazards

A fire needs fuel in order to grow, and fires can quickly get out of hand when something that shouldn’t be near the flames catches fire. Some things you want to keep away from any flames include food, clothing, and paper products. 

In this case, an organized kitchen is a happy kitchen. Make sure to keep any work areas clear of flammable products and always be aware of what’s nearby when you are working with fire. 

4. Keep an eye on electrical cords

Kitchen fires don’t always start with the stove. Electrical equipment is also susceptible to fires. 

Commercial kitchens use a variety of electrical appliances, and running many of them simultaneously can actually put a lot of strain on your electrical system. Over time, your electrical cables may fray or melt, or your wall outlets may wear out. Make sure that you are looking out for any obvious signs of damage to ensure that an electrical fire does not happen in your kitchen. 

It may also be wise to have an electrician visit your kitchen regularly for inspections and to make sure that you’re not overloading your electrical panel. 

5. Install a kitchen hood suppression system 

Kitchen hood suppression systems protect your building and its occupants by automatically reacting to a kitchen fire and suppressing it quickly. 

How does a kitchen hood suppression system work? When the system detects a fire, the nozzles discharge wet chemicals. These wet chemicals are designed to put out fires by blanketing the flames and starving them of oxygen. The system also shuts off the gas line automatically so the fire doesn’t get any more fuel. 

Kitchen hood suppression systems are so effective (when you maintain them correctly) that most of the time, your restaurant guests have no idea that anything even happened in the kitchen. 

Prevent fires in your commercial kitchen

Preventing a fire in your commercial kitchen requires constant attentiveness. It takes a consistent cleaning regime and a well-trained staff that knows not only how to prevent a fire, but what to do if one does break out. With some careful planning and some regular maintenance you can reduce the chances of a fire impacting your kitchen! 

Not sure where to begin with preventing fire in your commercial kitchen? Schedule a free building assessment with an FPS professional to get our recommendation.