The fast answer
To put out a grease or electrical fire: never use water. Cut the heat or power source if it's safe to do so, then smother the flame completely — with a metal lid, a fire blanket, or a Class C extinguisher for electrical fires. Covering the fire cuts off its oxygen supply, which is what actually stops it, not the water most people reach for first.
A small, unattended flame can become unmanageable in under a minute. That's the entire case for keeping something faster than a fire extinguisher within reach — no training, no pin to pull, no aim required.
What we tested
We handed a Prepared Hero Fire Blanket to a working fire captain and asked him to use it the way an untrained homeowner would: no walkthrough, no coaching, just the instructions printed on the packaging.
It smothered the test flame in under five seconds. Unlike a discharged fire extinguisher, there was no chemical mess to clean up afterward, and the blanket itself is reusable if it's checked for damage after use.
What holds up
- Deploys in seconds under real stress
- No training or certification needed
- Works on grease, electrical, and stovetop fires
- No chemical residue like an extinguisher leaves
- Compact enough for a kitchen drawer
Worth knowing
- Only effective on small, contained flames
- Not a substitute for a working smoke detector
- Best treated as single-use once deployed on a real fire
As seen on Good Morning America
Frequently asked
How do you put out a grease fire?
Never use water — it will splatter burning oil and spread the flames. Turn off the heat if it's safe to reach, then smother the fire completely with a metal lid, a small amount of baking soda, or a fire blanket. A blanket is faster and more reliable than searching for a matching lid mid-emergency.
How do you put out an electrical fire?
Never use water — it conducts electricity and can cause shock or make things worse. If it's safe, cut power at the breaker or unplug the source, then smother the flame with a Class C extinguisher or a fire blanket. If it's spreading, evacuate and call 911.
Can baking soda put out a fire?
In small amounts, yes — for very small grease fires. It releases carbon dioxide when heated, cutting off oxygen. It only works on candle-sized flames and takes a lot of it; a fire blanket handles anything beyond that more reliably.
What type of fire can be put out with water?
Water only works on Class A fires — wood, paper, cloth, ordinary combustibles. Never use it on grease, electrical, or chemical fires.