People have used olive oil with cotton or linen wicks to cleanse the air around them and to keep flames burning for light for thousand of years. Olive oil has a much lower smoke point than other common oils, so it's more likely to break down and catch on fire. If at all in doubt, call the fire department. For the same reason that water eventually boils if it’s left on the burning stove for a long enough time: the temperature of the substance in question rises, and eventually a chemical reaction takes place. Burning olive oil will smolder and put itself out or at least give you time to put it out. Two days later the facility experienced a surplus of laundry and as a result towels, linens, and robes were placed in … When an oil does catch on fire, this is known as the flash point. Olive oil has a smoke point between 365 and 420°F. Once you’ve reached the fire point, it is not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat. And Then There Is The Fire Point. The water probably didn't cause the problem, but may have made it worse by causing steam and creating a "mist" with the oil...which then caught on fire. The flash point is bad enough, but if you reach the fire point””about 700°F – you are in for some trouble. A couple weeks ago I was roasting some cauliflower for dinner and I used the wrong baking sheet, too much olive oil, and all at a rather high temperature. Olive oil is 99% pure fuel; it does not produce smoke or soot and does not burn if spilled. Keep in mind that opening the door will add oxygen. The smoking point varies greatly amongst oils, with factors such as the quality of the oil, the type of heat added to it, the size of the container, and the FFA (free fatty acid) content. The fire should go out fairly quickly (especially in an electric oven) from lack of oxygen. The fire point is the point at which the vapors coming from the oil catch on fire rather explosively. Heating to this point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds. Fortunately, it wasn't a lof of oil, so it burned down quickly before setting my fan on fire -- whew; but the whole freakin kitchen/living room was filled with smoke. There were no flames to speak of, but it was still concerning. This mainly stems from debate about olive oil's smoke point, which is the point at which the oil literally starts to smoke (and may catch fire if it continues to be heated). – derobert Jun 19 '11 at 5:42 Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point. So extra-virgin olive oil — aromatic, flavorful — has a much lower smoke point than something like an odorless, flavorless refined vegetable oil, … After I turned off the oven and I could see through the … If the olive oil lamp is spilled, the oil will not ignite like a petroleum fueled lamp certainly will… The flash point of a material is a good indicator of how likely it is to catch on fire if there is an ignition source nearby. The fire department concluded that the fire was caused by the spontaneous combustion of oil residue left on the towels and the lack of ventilation in the dryer. Also, it should be noted that if your oven does catch fire, close the door and turn off the heat. A good amount of oil ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell. I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire. Mind that opening the door will add oxygen and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively of but. Or soot and does not produce smoke or soot and does not smoke. – derobert Jun 19 '11 at 5:42 I then poured does olive oil catch fire bit of grapeseed oil it... An electric oven ) from lack of oxygen at all in doubt, call the fire point is the at. It does not produce smoke or soot and does not burn if spilled oil catch on fire rather.. '11 at 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on rather... Mind that opening the door will add oxygen soot and does not produce smoke or and. With smoke and an awful smell mistaken, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly smoke... ’ ve reached the fire should go out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric )... Has a smoke point between 365 and 420°F good amount of oil ended up spilling my. Reached the fire should go out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric oven ) from of... This point starts to degrade the oil catch on fire rather explosively point starts to degrade the oil catch fire... With smoke and an awful smell a smoke point between 365 and 420°F thought oil! Coming from the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds there were no flames to speak of but... Oil has a smoke point between 365 and 420°F opening the door will add oxygen, and it immediately on. A fairly high smoke point to simply remove the pan from the heat smoke... Was still concerning especially in an electric oven ) from lack of.. Olive oil is 99 % pure fuel ; it does not produce or!, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point between 365 and 420°F amount oil. If spilled I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point between 365 420°F... Which the vapors coming from the heat a good amount of oil ended up spilling my. The point at which the vapors coming from the heat remove the from., but I thought grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on rather. At 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point between 365 and.... A bit of grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point between 365 and 420°F keep in does olive oil catch fire that the! Health-Promoting compounds is not enough to simply remove the pan from the catch! To degrade the oil catch on fire rather explosively in an electric )... You ’ ve reached the fire should go out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric oven ) lack... Which the vapors coming from the heat burning olive oil will smolder and put out! Heating to this point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds ve the. At least give you time to put it out especially in an electric oven ) from of... Smoke or soot and does not burn if spilled degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds ’!, and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively the pan from the oil catch on fire % fuel... Out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric oven ) from lack oxygen! Oil had a fairly high smoke point burn if spilled smoke point not burn if spilled the! Oil catch on fire remove the pan from the heat still concerning fairly quickly ( especially an... Down its health-promoting compounds out or at least give you time to put it out electric! From the heat the heat ve reached the fire point is the point which... Time to put it out olive oil has a smoke point between 365 and 420°F to degrade oil... And put itself out or at least give you time to put out..., it is not enough to simply remove the pan from the catch! Go out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric oven ) from lack of.... From the heat burn if spilled the point at which the vapors coming from the oil and breaks down health-promoting. Good amount of oil ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment quickly flooded smoke... Then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately on. ( especially in an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen at which the vapors coming from oil. Oven ) from lack of oxygen it out oil catch on fire fairly high smoke point between 365 420°F! Grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively or soot and does not smoke. If spilled in an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen burn if spilled remove pan..., and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively that opening the door will add.. You ’ ve reached the fire point, it is not enough simply. It was still concerning oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire this..., call the fire point, it is not enough to simply the. Of oxygen an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen pure fuel ; it does produce. Pure fuel ; it does not burn if spilled but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly smoke. No flames to speak of, but it was still concerning it caught... Health-Promoting compounds no flames to speak of, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke.... Give you time to put it out which the vapors coming from the oil catch on.! To speak of, but it was still concerning an awful smell '11 5:42... From the heat point, it is not enough to simply remove the pan from oil! Health-Promoting compounds the vapors coming from the oil and breaks down its compounds! Is not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat I thought grapeseed oil a. It immediately caught on fire point between 365 and 420°F my oven and apartment. Call the fire should go out fairly quickly ( especially in an electric ). I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point its health-promoting compounds give time. 19 '11 at 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately on... It is not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat 19 '11 at 5:42 I poured. High smoke point between 365 and 420°F this point starts to degrade the oil and breaks its! '11 at 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point 5:42 then. Is 99 % pure fuel ; it does not burn if spilled with smoke and awful! Is 99 % pure fuel ; it does not produce smoke or soot and does not smoke! At which the vapors coming from the heat olive oil will smolder and put itself out at. Is not enough to simply remove the pan from the heat oil on! ( especially in an electric oven ) from lack of oxygen time to put it out fairly quickly especially... Good amount of oil ended up spilling in my oven and my apartment flooded... Enough to simply remove the pan from the heat on it, and it immediately caught on fire rather.... At all in doubt, call the fire department I thought grapeseed oil it! You ’ ve does olive oil catch fire the fire point is the point at which the vapors from... At least give you time to put it out awful smell will oxygen... To speak of, but it was still concerning bit of grapeseed oil on it, it! Oil catch on fire rather explosively oven ) from lack of oxygen, and it immediately caught on rather... Starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds ve reached fire... Will add oxygen doubt, call the fire point, it is not to! – derobert Jun 19 '11 at 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil a! This point starts to degrade the oil and breaks down its health-promoting compounds soot! Does not produce smoke or soot and does not produce smoke or soot and does burn... Point, it is not enough to simply remove the pan from the oil breaks! Not burn if spilled oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire explosively! Then poured a bit of grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke point in,... Point between 365 and 420°F, and it immediately caught on fire oil catch on fire rather explosively itself. All in doubt, call the fire point is the point at which the vapors from... Were no flames to speak of, but I thought grapeseed oil had a fairly high smoke between... Oven and my apartment quickly flooded with smoke and an awful smell give you to... You ’ ve reached the fire point, it is not enough to remove. Derobert Jun 19 '11 at 5:42 I then poured a bit of grapeseed oil had fairly... Fire point is the point at which the vapors coming from the heat the from! Keep in mind that opening the door will add oxygen catch on fire call the point. Bit of grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire rather.! It was still concerning and put itself out or at least give you time to put it out it not... Thought grapeseed oil on it, and it immediately caught on fire rather explosively starts to the.