Fire Safety Training for Restaurant Staff

Commercial kitchens are high-energy environments where heat, oil, and fast-paced work collide—creating the perfect storm for potential fire hazards. This reality makes restaurants uniquely vulnerable and underscores why fire safety training for your staff is absolutely essential.

According to the NFPA, eating and drinking establishments experience approximately 8,160 structure fires every year, with more than 50% caused by cooking equipment.

When every staff member knows how to prevent fires and respond confidently in an emergency, you protect your business, your employees, and your guests. Here’s how to make fire safety training a cornerstone of your restaurant’s safety strategy.

Cultivate a “Safety-First” Culture

Fire safety training shouldn’t be a once-a-year lecture; it should be part of your restaurant’s DNA. Treat fire drills with the same professionalism as a Saturday night dinner service.

Key Preventative Fire Safety Habits for Your Team:

• Eradicate all grease build-ups. 

Grease is fuel. Ensure a rigorous schedule for cleaning exhaust hoods, filters, and vents. Don’t forget the “hidden” spots: behind fryers and under convection ovens. If a grease fire does occur, be sure that all of your staff understand to keep water away from it. Water will not suppress a grease fire; water will spread it out.

• Manage ash safely.

If your facility uses a wood or charcoal burning oven, remove the piles of ash at least once a day. Safely store the ash at least 15 feet from the building in metal containers before disposing of it.

• Designate smoking areas.

Ensure staff dispose of cigarettes in approved receptacles far away from dumpsters or combustible delivery pallets.

• Keep walking lanes clear and properly dispose of trash.

Trash accumulates especially fast in restaurants which requires a diligent and rigorous system for its proper disposal. Carefully store linens, paper products, boxes and food away from heat and cooking sources. Throw away soiled rags, cardboard boxes and wooden pallets once a day.

• Offer emergency training.

Teach new employees about your unique evacuation protocol and the usage of fire-safety equipment.

Pro-Tip: Teach the PASS Method when using a fire extinguisher:

1. Pull the pin.
2. Aim at the base of the fire.
3. Squeeze the handle.
4. Sweep from side to side.

Know Your Role

When a fire breaks out and panic settles in, you don’t want to rely on your staff thinking or problem solving on the go. Instead, set up a plan that’s unique to your establishment, and have your staff practice regularly.

If you have a sizable staff, consider integrating a buddy system. Pair up staff who work well together and who also happen to work in the same area of your establishment.

Assign each person roles that they’ll take on during any fire emergency situation. For instance, wait-staff could be assigned as designated patron escorts while your kitchen staff can assure everyone in the restaurant is accounted for and safe. Someone else can keep customers calm and collected as the restaurant fire safety plan is carried out.

Who gets what role isn’t as important as assigning roles in the first place. When a restaurant fire flares up, each member of your staff should immediately know their designated place in your fire safety plan and should also be able to fulfill their emergency duties without any supervision.

This avoids potential frenzy and ensures the safety of patrons and staff. Also, be prepared to power down. Train at least one worker per shift how to shut off gas and electrical power in case of emergency.

Make Fire Safety Training a Priority

Fire safety isn’t just a box to check—it’s a commitment to protecting your team, your guests, and your business. By cultivating a safety-first culture, enforcing preventative habits, and assigning clear roles, you dramatically reduce the risk of a devastating fire.

But the most effective step you can take? Invest in professional fire safety training for your restaurant staff, like fire extinguisher training with Encore Fire Protection. We’ll ensure your team knows exactly how to prevent fires and respond confidently in an emergency.