When it comes to home safety, having the correct tools at home can give you peace of mind and help to prevent property damage, injuries and even save lives, especially when it comes to fire safety. A large proportion of fires in the home are cooking related, generally attributed to cookers & ovens, rings & hot plates and grills & toasters so having the relevant safety equipment on hand is a no-brainer – you would not forget to have a kettle, oven or fridge in your kitchen so don’t forego the safety equipment as it is just as, or even more important. Fire extinguishers are great for fires but not always perfect for cooking-related fires as the force of the spray could blow fat, grease and oil further and cause a fire to spread. A fire blanket is perfect for minor cooking fires. These heavy-duty blankets are specifically designed to throw over the fire and smother flames quickly and effectively, making them an essential addition to any home or workplace.
Fire blankets come in a variety of sizes, from 1×1 metre to 1.2×1.8 meters. For my needs I wanted one that would suit my standard size hob on my cooker so went for the 1×1 metre in a soft case.
The idea of a fire blanket is that in the event of a small fire such as a pan fire or fire in a waste paper basket, you can place the blanket over the top to smother the flames (and in the event of a cooker fire, turn off the fuel source). With oxygen cut off to the flames and any fuel source turned off, the flames will lack the ability to burn and die out – sometimes with the aid of a fire extinguisher. A fire blanket can also be used to wrap a person in to smother the flames.
The FSS UK Fire Blanket is bright red in colour and has all the safety and usage information printed on it. A fire blanket should be stored in the room when it will be used in an emergency, the kitchen is probably the most likely place (unless you are using outside for barbeques etc). It shouldn’t be kept in a drawer or cupboard but mounted on a wall that is quickly and easily accessible in the event of a fire (not over the cooker itself as you could burn yourself reaching over to get it).
Using one is easy. With it mounted on the wall (it has a hole at the top of the cover so that you can screw it to the wall), in the event of a fire you pull the two straps to release the blanket. Gently place the blanket over the source of the fire (pan for example), making sure that your hands are wrapped or covered by the blanket. Turn off any fuel source. Leave for a few minutes to deprive the fire of the much needed oxygen before removing the fire blanket.
Overall, having a fire blanket in the kitchen is a must have safety device, especially for Class F fires (involving cooking oils, for example) which are more common in the home. A lot of home fire extinguishers can’t be used on Class F fires, so a fire blanket is the perfect companion.
Having a fire blanket handy can stop fires from spreading quickly but must only be used if the fire is smaller than the blanket, which in most cases a simple pan fire will be. Any bigger, leave the house and call the fire brigade.
Fire blankets are a quick way to extinguish small fires. They work by effectively cutting off the fire’s oxygen supply and smothering the flames. Keeping a fire blanket on hand can make a critical difference.
Being prepared is half the battle when it comes to home safety and small fires.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £11.99
Available to buy from Amazon here.