Fire blankets are firefighting equipment. They are made from thick wool treated with fiberglass, or flameproof materials.

Uses of A Fire Blanket

A fire blanket is used to extinguish small fire in the early stage thereby preventing it from spreading by cutting off oxygen supply which is one of the three elements of fire.

It is used to extinguish chip pan fire in the kitchens, bigger ones are used in laboratories and factories.

It can be wrapped around someone whose clothes have just caught fire.

It can be wrapped around one’s body to help escape from fire.

The basic idea on how to use a fire blanket:

• Turn off the heat source if it is safe to do so.
• Pull the tapes to release the blanket from its container.
• Wrap the blanket around your hands before you near the fire.
• Place the blanket over the fire and leave it to be completely cool.

The fire blanket should be placed in an easily accessible location.

Fire blanket should be replaced after it has been used on a fire because its surface would have been coated with debris or other flammable materials which will make it not suitable for re-use.

If you are in doubt about whether you can tackle a fire safely without risk to yourself or others, leave it and get yourself and others to safety, and call the fire service immediately.