A321
Flight Attendant Current
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors; Procedure
On taxi I smelled smoke and realized it was coming from the first class oven. I slowly opened the oven door and saw flames at the back of the oven. I immediately closed the oven door and called the Captain to advise him of the issue. The number 3 smelled the smoke and came to the first class galley. I advised her of the issue and asked that she get the nearest fire extinguisher. Then with the Captain on the phone and after 5 minutes passed and the oven no longer felt hot to the touch I slowly opened the oven and the fire had gone out.The caterer has not been providing the liner inserts for the ovens. This is a new occurrence and when I noticed they were missing I told the caterer in order for us to be able to serve the nuts and cookies and heat them in the oven we needed the insert liner because without it the oven becomes a fire hazard. On the flight in question I put the nuts in the oven before takeoff as I always do and completely didn't notice the insert liner was not present. When I smelled the smoke and opened the oven door I knew why; the lids of the nuts were on fire they had been sucked up into the fan which was exposed due to the absence of the liner insert.There is a miscommunication between the caterers and the company. The first time I noticed this I asked the caterer why the insert liners were missing and he said this is not a dinner flight you don't need the ovens and I advised him that yes we do; we have nuts and cookies that need to be heated.
A321 Flight Attendant reported noticing smoke and fire in an oven during taxi. Contributing to the fire was the oven insert liner; which is provided by the caterer; was missing.