So, had a slightly out of control grease fire with my weber grill tonight. Had to give a couple quick shots with an extinguisher to keep it from getting worse. Is it safe to clean the grill and keep using? Get new grates? The grill is ok, I'm concerned about the extinguisher materials with food.

I think I would maybe hit it with oven cleaner and then pressure wash it.

Dry chemical fire extinguishers typically use monoammonium phosphate powder. Here's a link to a MSDS for that chemical:

http://www.unitedsuppliers.com...9&forcedownload=true

Next time that happens, just put the lid on and close the top vent. Works EVERY time.

Jim

I had a huge grease fire in one of my trailer smokers a few weeks back. The grease drain had been plugged and I didn't notice. I could tell by the smoke coming out of the stack things weren't right. Once I got within 10 fet of the smoker I could hear the fire howling inside.

I had 4 briskets going and didn't want to lose them. Grabbed welding gloves and managed to save them. It was a heck of a fire when I opened the doors. Soon as the briskets were out I shut the exhaust and intake vents and it was over in 30 seconds.

I have extinguisher mounted on my smoker but I never thought to use it and probably wouldn't have.

I would clean it, pressure wash it and then build a hot bed of coals in it without food before I used it with food again.

About 15 years ago I had a grease fire on my gas grill. Really out of control, you know the type.

Luckily, my dad came to the rescue with a giant glass of water.....

It's a q300 - gas grill. Thanks for the replies. Looks like a thorough cleaning is all I need.

Gas Grill?

Do you cook at low/medium temperatures?

It’s probably a build up of grease drippings that haven’t burned off. Run it on high for 15 or twenty minutes to clean it. Keep an eye on it, cause the fire can get substantial.

Then, everytime you finish grilling, run it on high for ten minutes to clean it.

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
About 15 years ago I had a grease fire on my gas grill. Really out of control, you know the type.

Luckily, my dad came to the rescue with a giant glass of water.....

Doh! I knew better than to add water.

 
The pan directly underneath the grills collects grease (not the aluminum foil pan down at the bottom, but the pan you can pull out and scrape clean). This is where I have found all of my grease fires in using the same Weber grill for 15 years.
 

quote:

Originally posted by sean7:
It's a q300 - gas grill. Thanks for the replies. Looks like a thorough cleaning is all I need.

Yes. A thorough cleaning. A scrub brush. A bottle of soap water and use your hose. Spread it all out in the grass and hose it off.

Isn't flour a good option to use for a grease fire?

Edit:
Not so good I see...

No not flour ....

salt!

....fine particulate flour is not only flammable but explosive in certain circumstances....

on the other hand, a heavy wad of flour on a small point source will extinguish....

the term 'grease fire' doesn't suggest 'glass of water' is a likely solution, from what I've been told.

quote:

Originally posted by sean7:
It's a q300 - gas grill. Thanks for the replies. Looks like a thorough cleaning is all I need.

I have a Q320 (same grill with a handle light) and you cannot put out a grease fire by closing the lid. Trust me I know.

Don't be surprised if your firebox got slightly warped by the experience. Mine works just fine but I can tell the lid fits a little differently.

I clean my firebox more proactively now. Use an old credit card, scraping into the drip tray and it works like a charm.

quote:

Originally posted by T-Bohn:
No not flour ....

salt!

Or baking soda

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
 
The pan directly underneath the grills collects grease (not the aluminum foil pan down at the bottom, but the pan you can pull out and scrape clean). This is where I have found all of my grease fires in using the same Weber grill for 15 years.
 

100%. Keep that pan clean and you're golden.

quote:

Originally posted by Spokane228:
Gas Grill?

Do you cook at low/medium temperatures?

It’s probably a build up of grease drippings that haven’t burned off. Run it on high for 15 or twenty minutes to clean it. Keep an eye on it, cause the fire can get substantial.

Then, everytime you finish grilling, run it on high for ten minutes to clean it.

Yes, this will solve the problem in the future.

I had a couple bad flare-ups but quickly doused them with a box of baking soda and it works very well. It's cheap and easy to clean up and won't hurt you in the least if you ingest any.

Keep a spray bottle of water handy and you can put out most fires with either a spritz or a pour.
I've had some doozies!