What do you do when a flame starts in the oven?

Author: Dr. Ed Anderson  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

The most important thing to remember if a fire breaks out in the oven is to keep the door closed, turn off the oven, and keep an eye on the flame. This will keep the fire contained (remember in high school chemistry class, when we learned that fire needs oxygen to grow?), and it should die down in a few moments.

What to do if a fire starts in your oven?

👉 Turn off the oven to remove the source of fuel and heat. 👉 Wait for the fire to go out. 👉 Open windows to ventilate the smoke. Most of the time this will be all that is needed, however if at any time you feel unsafe do not hesitate to call 911.

Can you put out an oven fire with water?

The big no-no in most kitchen fires is to douse them with water, since the majority of cooking-related fires involve either grease or electrical appliances. Water will often only make a grease or electrical fire worse. Instead, you want to smother them, depriving the fire of oxygen and, hopefully, putting it out.

Is it normal to see flames in gas oven?

Gas Ranges can have a small amount of flame visible under the unit during oven ignition. If the flames appear excessive, see Gas Oven Delayed Ignition.

How do I reduce the flame in my oven?

Tips to Prevent Oven Fires
  1. Don't Leave the Oven Unattended While Cooking. This is the most common cause of kitchen fires. ...
  2. Cover Splatter-Prone Food. ...
  3. Be Careful with Kids and Pets in the Kitchen. ...
  4. Keep Flammable Materials Away. ...
  5. Monitor Oven Temperature. ...
  6. Set a Timer. ...
  7. Keep Your Kitchen Clean. ...
  8. Get the Right Fire Extinguisher.

Is it normal to see flames inside my self-cleaning oven?

Why is my oven flaming up?

Grease and oil can quickly cause a flame when they come in contact with an oven surface. But even something like cake or cookie batter can become ablaze if it spills onto the oven.

How do you reduce a flame?

Consider the following steps to help eliminate excess mucus and phlegm:
  1. Keep the air moist. ...
  2. Drink plenty of fluids. ...
  3. Apply a warm, wet washcloth to the face. ...
  4. Keep the head elevated. ...
  5. Do not suppress a cough. ...
  6. Discreetly get rid of phlegm. ...
  7. Use a saline nasal spray or rinse. ...
  8. Gargle with salt water.

Why is my gas oven flame too high?

Most Gas Ranges and Cooktops are set for use with natural gas at the factory. If the burner or oven flames are too high; for example, touching or above the grate, or are uneven, this could be an indication that the Range or Cooktop was improperly converted from a natural gas to an LP (Liquid Propane) gas use.

What to do if I accidentally left my gas stove on?

If You Don't Smell Gas, Relax, and Turn Off the Stove

If you left the stove on and don't smell gas, you may see a flame that has been burning the gas, preventing it from leaching into your home. In that case, turn off the stove. If you aren't 100% certain or are hard of smell, don't turn on your stove.

Can salt put out a fire?

Pour baking soda or salt onto the fire.

This method works best for a small fire, since you'll need enough salt or baking soda to cover the fire completely. You can always spray the fire with a Class B or Class K fire extinguisher, though this should be a last resort since it will contaminate your kitchen.

Can water ruin an oven?

Water Intrusion and Subsequent Oven Component Damage

If your oven floor and overhead crown elements have taken on water over an extended period of time, and this is left untreated, they could ultimately deteriorate in the form of spalling (identified by the crumbling or flaking of the surface).

Will flour put out an oven fire?

While sometimes baking soda can extinguish a small grease fire (though not if the fire is too overwhelming), flour cannot and should not be used. Due to chemical risk of contaminating your kitchen, putting out a grease fire with your fire extinguisher should be the last resort.

How common are oven fires?

In 2021, fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated 170,000 home cooking fires. These fires caused an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and over $494 million in property loss.

Will baking soda put out a fire?

Instead, you can reach for two pantry staples to help douse a small grease fire safely: Baking soda is effective because it releases carbon dioxide when heated, which can smother the fire. Salt forms a barrier between the fire and the air.

Why does my oven smell like burning?

This can happen from flare-ups, smoking, or flaming when the oven is heavily soiled. It is recommended to clean the oven regularly - avoid heavy build-up of grease in the oven.

Can you clean an oven after a fire?

To clean your oven after a fire, use baking soda and water to scrub away the burnt residue. Follow up with vinegar for an extra tough cleaning job! Finally, dry off the outside of the oven and you are good to go.

What should oven flame look like?

you always want to see a blue color flame. A gas flame appearing yellow or orange in color or behaving with pops of yellow or orange indicates an improper ratio of oxygen for combustion. Often this improper combustion is temporary and could be caused by dust particles or a dirty burner that needs cleaning.

Why does the flame go out on my gas oven?

If the flame goes out repeatedly, or if it's yellow at the tip, it's getting too little air. If there's a space between the flame and the pilot feed tube, it's getting too much air. To correct either condition, turn the pilot adjustment screw on the gas line slightly, as directed by the manufacturer of the range.

How do you fix a high flame on a gas stove?

4. Burner Flame Needs Adjustment
  1. Turn the surface burner being adjusted to the low or simmer setting.
  2. Remove the burner knob.
  3. Insert a small, flat-blade screwdriver into the valve shaft.
  4. Turn the valve adjustment screw to adjust the flame. Take your time and make gradual adjustments. ...
  5. Replace the burner knob.

How big should the flame be in a gas oven?

The flame size on a gas burner should match the cookware you are using. Never let the flame extend up the sides of the cookware. Any flame larger than the bottom of the cookware is wasted and only serves to heat the handles.

How do you put out a flame?

When at all feasible, try to suffocate a fire by smothering it with the most suitable sort of fire extinguisher, water, or a covering substance like earth. A carbon dioxide extinguisher or a fire blanket can be used to remove oxygen from the area around the fire.

How is the flame adjusted?

Butane Gas Lighter

Flame height can be adjusted by turning adjuster screw or adjuster lever to (+) high for a long flame or to (-) low for a short flame.

How do you deal with flames?

Drop to the ground and cover your face if you can. Roll over and over or back and forth until the flames go out. Running will only make the fire burn faster.

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