Fire safety is crucial to maintaining a secure environment, whether at home, in the workplace, or in any public space. Among the various fire safety tools available, the fire blanket is an essential and effective device for quickly extinguishing small fires. Designed to smother flames by cutting off the oxygen supply, fire blankets are simple to use but require proper knowledge and technique to be effective.
In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive guide on using a fire blanket correctly, ensuring you are well-prepared to handle a fire emergency confidently.
- What is a Fire Blanket?
- How Does a Fire Blanket Work?
- What is a Fire Blanket Used For?
- How to Use a Fire Blanket
- Fire Blanket Usage FAQs
What is a Fire Blanket?
A fire blanket is a simple fire-extinguishing device made from woven fibreglass, ensuring it can withstand high temperatures. It works by smothering a small fire and cutting off its oxygen supply. Fire blankets provide additional fire safety to fire extinguishers in various environments where small fires are more likely to break out, such as a kitchen.
How Does a Fire Blanket Work?
A fire blanket effectively extinguishes small fires by smothering flames and cutting off their oxygen supply. As the name implies, once released from its container, the fire blanket is opened to its full size and carefully placed over the fire, ensuring complete coverage. By covering the fire, the blanket deprives it of oxygen, one of the three essential elements needed for combustion, thereby extinguishing the flames.
Our fire blankets are designed for quick release and deployment and should ideally be situated in view for emergency access, close to the fire risk area. In the home, where wall hanging may be obtrusive, the blanket can be hung on the inside of a kitchen cupboard door close to the cooking area.
What is a Fire Blanket Used For?
Kitchen Fires
Fire blankets are most commonly used for extinguishing small fires in or around the kitchen. They are handy for smothering Class F fires involving cooking oils. Unlike water, which can cause grease fires to spread, a fire blanket will smother the flames and cut off their oxygen supply.
Waste Bin Fires
Fire blankets are highly effective for extinguishing waste bin fires in homes, offices, and industrial settings. To cut off the oxygen supply, the entire waste bin must be covered when using the fire blanket.
Clothing Fires
If a person’s clothing catches fire, wrapping them in a fire blanket can quickly extinguish the flames to prevent further injury. It is essential for the individual who has caught fire to remember to stop what they are doing, drop to the floor and roll while using the fire blanket to smother the flames more effectively.
How to Use a Fire Blanket
The process of using a fire blanket will differ slightly depending on the type of fire you are extinguishing. Generally, you will follow the below steps for using a fire blanket:
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Assess the Situation
Fire blankets are suitable for small kitchen fires, waste bin fires and clothing fires, so you must ensure the fire is small and manageable to use a fire blanket. If the fire is too large or out of control, evacuate the area and call emergency services immediately.
2. Turn off the Heat Source
If you are faced with a kitchen appliance it is crucial that you turn off the heat source, if it is safe to do so, before deploying the fire blanket.
3. Remove the Fire Blanket
Quickly locate the fire blanket, typically stored in a wall-mounted container or box. To remove the fire blanket from its container, you must pull the tapes or handles downwards to release it.
4. Protect Your Hands
Hold the fire blanket by the corners or edges. Most fire blankets have straps or loops at the top corners to protect your hands. Ensure your hands are in a shield-position behind the blanket as you approach the fire to prevent burns.
5. Approach the Fire
Carefully move towards the fire, keeping the blanket between you and the flames. Stay low if there is smoke, as smoke inhalation can be dangerous.
6. Cover the Fire
Gently place or throw the fire blanket over the fire, ensuring it completely covers the flames. If using the blanket on a person whose clothing is on fire, wrap them in the blanket to smother the flames.
7. Leave the Blanket in Place
Once deployed over the fire, leave for several minutes until all signs of fire have disappeared. Allow the blanket to cool down completely before removing it to avoid reigniting the fire.
8. Monitor the Area and Follow Manufacturer Instructions
After the fire has been extinguished, check for any remaining hot spots or embers that could reignite. Normally fire blankets are not reusable if the outer sleeve is damaged by the fire, check the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding the disposal or reuse of the fire blanket.
If the fire blanket is disposable, follow proper disposal procedures. If it is reusable, clean it according to the manufacturer's guidelines and store it back in its designated location.
Fire Blanket Usage FAQs
Do fire blankets expire?
Fire blankets do not have a specific expiration date, but they should be regularly inspected for damage or wear. Replace the blanket if it is damaged or compromised in any way.
How do I know if the fire is small enough for a fire blanket?
Fire blankets are suitable for fires that are confined to a small area and can be easily covered. If the fire is spreading rapidly or is too large to cover completely, evacuate the area and call emergency services.
Does a fire blanket replace a fire extinguisher?
A fire blanket does not replace a fire extinguisher; rather, it complements it. While a fire blanket is ideal for smothering small fires, such as kitchen or clothing fires, a fire extinguisher is necessary for larger or more complex fires. Using a fire blanket first, does not remove the possibility of a larger or more difficult fire occurring, therefore a fire extinguisher should always be present.
Ensure Fire Safety with Fire & Safety Centre
Fire blankets, are a crucial method of controlling a small fire outbreak, but why stop there? Enhancing your fire protection equipment is the best way to ensure you are prepared for a range of fire outbreaks. At Fire & Safety Centre, fire protection is at the forefront of everything we offer, a robust and comprehensive fire equipment selection can save your life.
Invest in our high-quality fire blankets, and explore our range of fire protection products to maximise your safety.