Causes Of Fire And Explosion In Commercial Kitchens

Commercial kitchens are the central operational zones of restaurants, hotels, food service businesses, and institutional kitchens such as canteens. These spaces are constantly engaged in intense cooking and food preparation activities. Due to the nature of their operations, they are also high-risk environments for fire and explosion hazards, as they involve the frequent use of high temperatures, highly flammable substances (animal and vegetable cooking oils), gas, electrical appliances, and operate at a high intensity throughout the day.

Therefore, if you are a business owner in the food service industry, a chef, or a kitchen staff member working in such environments, this article is for you.
Understanding the common causes of fires and explosions in commercial kitchens not only helps you implement effective preventive measures but also contributes to building a safer workplace and ensuring the long-term sustainability of your business operations.

I. Current Situation and Challenges.

According to actual reports from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the United States, the losses caused by kitchen fires are extremely significant. Specific data is as follows:

• From 2013 to 2017, approximately 173,200 restaurant fires were reported annually due to cooking activities. These incidents resulted in an average of 550 deaths, 5,020 injuries, and $1.2 billion in direct property damage per year.
• Between 2014 and 2018, cooking equipment accounted for 60% of fire incidents in food service establishments, causing an annual average of 100 fatalities and approximately $165 billion in property losses.

In Vietnam, according to reports from the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Department (PCCC&CNCH) under the Ministry of Public Security, kitchen fires are among the most common types of fire incidents. In 2022, there were 2,500 fire incidents nationwide, with around 30% related to residential areas and small business establishments, including kitchen fires.

II. Potential Causes of Fire and Explosion in Commercial Kitchens.

The figures above do not lie, and from that, we can see that kitchen fires—though often hidden—can still cause tremendous physical and emotional damage to both food service businesses and their customers. So, what are the causes? After conducting research, we have found that kitchen fires are mainly caused by the following reasons:

1. Technical failures such as gas leaks or electrical overloads and short circuits

In a commercial kitchen environment, as many already know, gas and electricity are two indispensable elements used to operate kitchen equipment and HVAC systems, such as ventilation and air conditioning. In some facilities, gas storage areas are separated to prevent potential gas leak incidents. One heartbreaking example is the gas leak explosion at Oriental Kitchen (USA), which resulted not only in material loss but also in the collapse of 40 years of business efforts across two generations of a family. The material and emotional losses from such fires cannot be fully measured.

2. Combustible materials in commercial kitchens.

These combustible materials may include rags, paper, or other flammable items carelessly placed near open flames—but more critically, accumulated grease over time in various areas. According to a report by BareMetal Standard, grease buildup accounts for 29% of kitchen fire causes.

Grease can accumulate everywhere: inside kitchen appliances, above exhaust hoods, in ductwork, on stovetop surfaces, etc.—accidentally forming a highly flammable network. With just a small ignition source, all of this can quickly react together, resulting in a large, fast-spreading grease fire that is extremely difficult to control.

The kitchen fire suppression system was developed to address this core problem, with a mechanism that discharges the extinguishing agent simultaneously in three critical areas: the exhaust hood, the ductwork, and the cooking surface. The system sprays in a total-coverage pattern, forming a barrier layer that isolates grease from oxygen and the ignition source, effectively extinguishing the fire and preventing reignition—all within just 35 seconds.

We have tested this mechanism in the following video:

Through the video, you can see that when grease ignites into flames, the system does not activate during small or medium flames (commonly used in cooking or fire displays), so as not to interrupt the process. It only activates when the flames escalate into a real fire—within 5 seconds—automatically discharging the extinguishing agent in a total-coverage spray over kitchen appliances.

Within just the first 10 seconds, the fire is brought under control, and within a total of just over 30 seconds, it is completely extinguished with no reignition. Rapid grease fires are no longer a major or uncontrollable threat when a commercial kitchen is equipped with a proper fire suppression system.

Additionally, with periodic maintenance and warranty services provided alongside the Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System, our technical team will inspect the system regularly to ensure no grease buildup occurs in the suppression units, guaranteeing the system operates smoothly and remains in optimal condition during unexpected emergencies.

3. Human factor.

Humans are present everywhere in the kitchen, from the ingredient preparation stage, cooking stage, to the operation of kitchen machinery and equipment… Kitchen fires are sometimes caused by external factors such as gas leaks or electrical short circuits, as mentioned above, but most commonly they result from human negligence. For example, the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel was mainly caused by carelessness during food preparation by the kitchen staff, when overheated oil led to a fire.

In reality, human-caused fires and explosions in industrial kitchens are very likely to occur. Improper use of kitchen equipment can trigger incidents similar to the Grand Kartal fire. Carelessness during cooking, such as forgetting to monitor food on the stove, can also result in fires. And as human nature dictates, our first instinct when encountering a fire is to panic. In a dangerous situation, people often do not know how to extinguish the fire properly. What method should be used? What are the steps to follow? In such panic, improper actions may lead to greater fires, such as pouring water on a grease fire, which causes the flames to flare up even higher; or misusing a fire extinguisher due to confusion,…

Therefore, the Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System is installed to automatically activate and extinguish fires in the kitchen. It is equipped with either thermal link triggers or heat-sensing cables, depending on the mechanical-electrical setup selected during installation. These devices allow the system to monitor 24/7 and instantly suppress fires as soon as they are detected.

Being a specialized fire suppression system designed exclusively for industrial kitchens in food service businesses, restaurants, hotels, resorts, canteens, etc., the Synergy system effectively addresses most of the common causes of fires and explosions in industrial kitchens as detailed above. 

III. Introduction to the Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System

Choosing and installing the Synergy fire suppression system is often considered a worthwhile investment. This is because the damage caused by kitchen fires is immense, with the most evident consequences being economic loss and reputational damage to the business.

SmartTech is proud to introduce the Swastik Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System – a comprehensive solution for ensuring kitchen safety in businesses, offered at a reasonable investment cost. This is the first system in Asia to be UL300 certified – a certification granted by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) – ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of the system in controlling grease fires, which are a common hazard in industrial kitchens.

Some Outstanding Advantages of the Swastik Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System:

The Swastik Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System is suitably applied to all industrial kitchens in food service establishments, restaurants, hotels, resorts, hospital canteens, factories, schools, etc., to ensure the safety of personnel and businesses against the risk of sudden grease fires.

SMARTTECH – A TRUSTED PROVIDER OF SYNERGY KITCHEN FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS IN VIETNAM

SmartTech is not only the official distributor of the Synergy Kitchen Fire Suppression System in Vietnam – we are also your trusted partner in protecting kitchen safety, giving you peace of mind for the continuous operation of your business.

ACT NOW – STAY SAFE FOR THE LONG RUN!!!
☎️ Contact us now for a free consultation:
SĐT(Zalo): 0981.909.051
Email: Sales.st@smarttechvina.com.vn