If you’re curious about what does a fire blanket do, you can get the gist from the name itself. A fire blanket fights fire by smothering it and cutting its oxygen supply. Therefore, it’s a type of fire extinguisher.
What Does A Fire Blanket Do? An Extinguisher In Blanket Form?
A fire blanket is essentially an extinguisher in blanket form, meaning it can prevent the spread of fires. It works against small flames by smothering them like a blanket and cutting the oxygen supply needed by fire to persist and burn.
How fire blankets work
The overall construction of a fire blanket consists of a fire retardant film inside two layers of woven glass fiber fabric. The blanket is then stored in a container that you can mount on the wall. As mentioned previously, the blanket form is helpful to place over small flames to smother them and starve them of oxygen.
You can quickly eradicate small fires with a fire blanket by pulling the handles to let it slide from the container or according to the directions of the specific blanket you have. Then, you’ll cover your hands with the blanket to protect you before deploying it over the fire.
What Is A Fire Blanket Best Used For?
A fire blanket can typically withstand up to 1652°F of heat, so it works well for homes or even industrial kitchens. The compact size is also easy to store and carry around for boats or trailers. However, it’s best not to attempt putting out flames larger than the blanket and call the fire department hotline instead.
How to use a fire blanket
It’s better to check the instructions of the specific fire blanket you have. However, you can usually use one by pulling the straps to get it out of the container. Then, remember to cut off the electric or gas supply in the area before deploying the blanket onto the flames, carefully not to fan them.
Wrap the edge of the blanket around your hands to protect them and cover all the fire with the blanket. Please do not remove the blanket after putting out the fire because it would still be hot. And additionally, you can never reuse a fire blanket even if it seemed damage-free after the first use.
What Does A Fire Blanket Remove?
A fire blanket is only best for eradicating small fires, typically in the kitchen setting. This blanket-type extinguisher should be used for Class K fire or those that involve cooking oils and fats. The overall construction of a fire blanket can effectively eradicate this type of flame, even with the very high temperature from oils and fats.
We also like to emphasize that you should know the proper way of using the fire blanket. First, gauge if it can cover all the flames, and second, check on yourself. If you’re panicking, you shouldn’t try throwing the blanket over the fire as you might miss and get injured instead.
Can A Fire Blanket Protect You?
If you can’t deploy a fire blanket over the flames, you can also use it to protect yourself during the evacuation from the area. Cover yourself with the blanket to get away from the fire. Another way a fire blanket can protect someone is when a person is in flames.
You can wrap the blanket around them to minimize their injuries and burns. The blanket can even be incorporated into the stop, drop, and roll technique where a chemical fire extinguisher won’t be useful due to potential lung irritation when inhaled. And when using the fire blanket against a kitchen that caught alight, be sure to turn off the heat source first and never throw water on the grease before deploying the blanket.
Why Do You Need A Fire Blanket?
Fire protection
You can always get a fire blanket for your home, trailer, boat, or kitchen. It comes in different sizes but is all easy to store around potential fire hazard areas. As you have read, a fire blanket is not only applicable against fire, but it can also protect you during the evacuation, so you might as well get one.
Easy to use
It would be best if you got a fire blanket because it’s easier to use than a traditional fire extinguisher. Those who don’t have the strength to handle a fire extinguisher should comfortably use a blanket. Some people are also unable to smother fire using the drop and roll technique being old or sick, where a blanket is easier to use.
No clean-up
Finally, you don’t need much clean-up after using a fire blanket. You should only remember that this extinguisher is only effective for flames that its size can smother, and it’s always better to contact the fire department if you’re unsure of yourself. And after using, throw out the fire blanket.
Conclusion
If you don’t have a fire extinguisher at home, why not get a fire blanket? But what does a fire blanket do? It’s an extinguisher in a blanket form that you can use to smother small flames and prevent them from burning more.
You can keep this blanket in your home, trailer, or boat because it’s small and easy to handle, even if you’re struggling physically. Just remember that it only works for small fires, and you must never reuse one.