Fireproof blankets are ideal for putting out fires in small burning pans, so it is recommended to keep one in the kitchen and learn fire blanket use to handle it correctly and safely. A fire retardant blanket will give peace of mind to a home or restaurant owner and a car fireproof blanket is always a good idea as well.
When cooking, if a pan catches light under no circumstances should you pour water onto the flames. This will result in the fire spreading out rapidly, often with devastating consequences. Therefore, if you decide to tackle a pan fire, the safest and effective method is using a fire resistant blanket.
Fireproof blankets are made from glass fibre fabric, with a thin fire-resistant coating. They work by stopping the air flow to the fire, starving it of oxygen – one of the vital ingredients that fire needs to keep burning. They are a much safer option than the traditional wet tea-towel approach, which since 2008 has been advised against in government fire safety campaigns.
Make Sure Blanket is Correct Size
Before using a fireproof blanket, firstly you have to judge if it is safe to fight the fire. This will depend on whether the blanket is big enough to cover the full area of the fire and therefore cut off the oxygen supply to the flames.
As always in the case of fire, you should use caution and if there’s any doubt that you can put out the fire safely, shut the kitchen door behind you, get out and dial 999 straight away.
Step by Step: Using a Fireproof Blanket
- Turn off the source of heat if it is safe to do so, if not do this as soon as possible after the flames have been extinguished. - Pull the fire blanket out of its container and stretch it out fully, making sure that it covers the size of the fire. - Keep the blanket at arm’s length and approach the fire – looking over the top of the blanket, so you have a clear view of what you are doing. - Cover the burning pan, completely smothering the flames. - Leave the blanket in place for at least 30 minutes to an hour before removing to avoid re-ignition. - After putting the blanket on the flames – leave the room, shutting the door behind you and call the fire brigade. They will need to make sure everything is safe before you can re-enter the building, so this is important even if the fire has been put out.
For fires in commercial kitchens, it is also recommended to have a wet chemical fire extinguisher at hand as these are the only type of fire extinguisher designed specifically for use on fires in the kitchen involving volume of cooking oil as in deep fat fryers.
The Firechief range of products set the standard for those who are seeking superior quality, UK-approved fire safety products. Look out for the Firechief brand for products you can trust to help keep you safe.
Contact sales@firechiefglobal.com or call us on 0330 999 0019.