| A fire blanket is a handy and very simple option | | | | over the small fire, being careful not to blow the |
| for controlling and preventing small fires from | | | | flames or sparks throughout the house or |
| becoming much larger. The technology isn't new, it | | | | surrounding area. |
| has been around for years, but new types of | | | | Fire blankets are stored in protective pouches or |
| materials in the blanket make it a really good | | | | boxes and are folded to allow quick and easy |
| option for several different reasons. | | | | opening of the blanket. Generally all that is |
| These blankets are made from different types of | | | | required is to pull the tabs to release the blanket |
| materials but the most common ones are | | | | and hold the blanket by one edge of the material. |
| fiberglass. In laboratories and research facilities | | | | With your thumbs and index fingers holding the |
| there are often much larger models which can be | | | | blanket, position your hands so they are on the |
| made of wool treated with a fire retardant type | | | | same side of the blanket as you are. Your hands |
| of chemical. A large sized blanket like this is often | | | | should be parallel with the blanket, fingers pointing |
| used in emergencies for treating clothing fires or | | | | to the floor. |
| covering larger spaces. Generally these large sized | | | | From this position, rotate your wrists until your |
| models are not recommended for home use or | | | | hands are level with your arms and the blanket is |
| use in smaller areas since the additional fabric of | | | | covering your hands and fingers. Never use the |
| the blanket can be difficult to manage. In some of | | | | blanket with your fingers or hands uncovered or |
| the new models of blankets the fabric used is | | | | on the same side of the blanket as the flames. |
| actually cotton that is treated with a safe and | | | | This is sure to result in burns or significant |
| non-polluting type of fire inhibitor. | | | | discomfort from the heat of the fire. Move the |
| All fires burn using a combination of three | | | | lower edge of the blanket to the side of the fire |
| elements. They need to have some type of | | | | nearest you then carefully place the blanket over |
| material or combustible item to burn, something | | | | and across the fire, always keeping the blanket |
| to cause the ignition of the fuel material and | | | | between you and the flames. Don't throw the |
| oxygen to keep the fire going. A blanket is | | | | blanket; move slowly and carefully to prevent |
| designed to cover or cloak the fire, preventing | | | | spreading the flames. |
| additional oxygen to get to the fuel and thereby | | | | Allow the fire blanket to settle over the fire and |
| extinguishing the flames. They are much more | | | | leave it until the flames are fully extinguished and |
| effective on small kitchen types of grease fires | | | | there is no longer smoke or fire. If you remove |
| or stove fires than using water or chemicals since | | | | the material too fast the fire can re-ignite. Fire |
| they won't spread the fuel. | | | | blankets should only ever be used once and |
| The correct way to use a blanket to extinguish a | | | | thrown away. Having one or more of these |
| fire is important. Incorrectly using the blanket can | | | | simple, safe and easy to store blankets in your |
| result in poor coverage of the fire, resulting in | | | | kitchen, camper and near your grill can really help |
| oxygen still getting to the combustible material | | | | in preventing small fires from becoming a big |
| and the fire spreading. Simply drape the blanket | | | | problem. |