One video worth watching.

Fire + Oil + Water = Explosive Fireball This is a great example that was demonstrated at the EPFD Open House this weekend. The ingredients are simple…..heat (stove top) a pan of hot oil (think deep frying) and water. Stove top cooking oil can easily catch fire and sustain a flame. When this happens the best way to extinguish the fire is to remove the oxygen by placing a lid on pan. Pouring water into the oil fire will …..well cause a giant fire ball. I may not get this exactly right but water vaporizes (steam) around 212 degrees. The oil is likely at 500 degrees. When the water hits the 500 degree oil it quickly converts to gas. As it expands into gas the oil droplets adhere to the water molecules and as the steam rises (water), so does the fire-based oil and there you have it…..a huge and dangerous fire ball.