If you ever have an oil fire in your kitchen, the most important thing is never to pour water on it. The physics reason is that the water will sink straight to the bottom of the burning oil, hit the bottom of the pan, evaporate nearly instantly, and now you have a rapidly expanding (not quite exploding but close) cloud of water vapor propelling burning oil in all directions.
What does that mean in practice? The Slow Mo Guys decided to test it out, and film it at 2500fps.
Let’s just say that their decision to pour the water on the fire from the end of a long pole, from behind a barricade, while wearing protective gear, was very wise indeed.
(The correct way to put out an oil fire is to starve it of oxygen: put a metal [not glass!] lid on the pot.)
The same happens if you try to use an ABE fire extinguisher…
Samboeren min testet det… Det ble ikke pent. Jeg kom like etter med litt mer fornuft og brukte et lokk. Ventilatorer bør renses for fett av og til, for vår ble ikke pen 🙂
Ow, ow, ow…
However, the fire was put out.
Patrick Hughes Technically, yes. But if you tried to do that in your kitchen, you’d be well crisp around the face.