Grease fires are the leading cause of restaurant fires in California. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports that cooking equipment is responsible for the majority of commercial structure fires and most of them are preventable.
The primary culprit: grease buildup in the kitchen exhaust system. When grease accumulates in the hood, ductwork, and exhaust fan, it creates a direct path for fire to spread from the cooking surface to the roof.
How Grease Fires Start in Commercial Kitchens
Grease is flammable. As it accumulates in your exhaust system, it only takes a small flame or excessive heat from the cooking surface to ignite it. Once ignited, grease fires in ductwork are extremely difficult to extinguish they can travel the full length of the duct and ignite the roofing structure.
Prevention Starts with Regular Hood Cleaning
The single most effective fire prevention measure for a commercial kitchen is keeping the exhaust system clean. Per NFPA 96, this means regular pressure washing of the entire system from hood to rooftop fan on a schedule based on your cooking volume.