Fire Blankets: How and When to Use One

12 September 2023

Fire blankets are one of the simplest ways to stop a small fire before it spreads, and one of the most overlooked. Most people know smoke alarms and extinguishers, but the blanket in the kitchen drawer often gets forgotten. This piece covers what fire blankets are, when to reach for one, and how to use it properly.

A short history of Fire Blankets

Fire blankets have a long and storied history dating back centuries. Over time, as fire safety improved, so did the materials. Early versions used wool or asbestos, mostly in industrial settings. However, as our understanding of fire safety evolved, so did the materials and design of fire blankets. Today, modern fire blankets use advanced fire-resistant materials, which makes them an essential tool in homes, businesses, and industrial settings.

Anatomy of a Blanket

Knowing how a fire blanket is built helps you use it well. Most consist of two layers: an outer layer of fire-resistant material such as fibreglass or Kevlar, and an inner layer that insulates against heat. Together, those layers smother a small fire by cutting off its oxygen.

In fact, Australian fire blankets meet a national standard. Under the Australian Standard for fire blankets (AS/NZS 3504), a blanket must meet set performance tests, and the minimum size is 900mm by 900mm. Checking for that standard on the packaging confirms the blanket passed testing and approval.

When and Where to Use

Fire blankets suit small, contained fires. They work on flammable liquids, clothing, and kitchen appliance fires. For example, a grease fire on the stove is the classic case: drape the blanket over the flames and it starves the fire of air. Fire and Rescue NSW is clear that you should never use water on a cooking oil fire, and that a fire blanket is one of the safest ways to smother one in the first few seconds, if you feel confident doing so.

One thing the standard advice leaves out: a fire blanket only helps if it is within reach. A blanket hanging beside the stove stops a pan fire in seconds. The same blanket in a storeroom down the hall does nothing while the flames spread to a tea towel and beyond. In short, mount it where the fire is most likely to start, not where it looks tidy.

How to Use Fire Blankets

Using a fire blanket is straightforward, but technique matters. Follow these steps:

First, check your escape route. If the fire is too big to control, get out and call 000.
Pull the tabs to release the blanket and unfold it fully.
Hold it so the fabric shields your hands and forearms.
Lay it gently over the flames, covering the burning area completely.
Turn off the heat source or appliance if you can reach it safely.
Leave the blanket in place, then turn off the power or gas at the source.

Instead of throwing it, drape it down and over to keep the flames covered; throwing it can fan the fire or leave gaps.

Where Fire Blankets Earn Their Place

Fire blankets are not just a home item. They belong anywhere a small fire can start:

Homes: kitchens, garages, and workshops, where cooking and electrical faults cause most fires.
Commercial spaces: offices, cafes, and shops, kept where staff and customers can reach them.
Industrial sites: factories and warehouses, as part of a wider fire safety plan.
Laboratories: anywhere a chemical fire could flare up.

Overall, blankets come in a range of sizes to match the risk, from 1m x 1m for a domestic kitchen up to 1.8m x 1.8m for larger commercial and industrial spaces.

Looking After Your Fire Blanket

Like any safety gear, a fire blanket needs the occasional check. Inspect it for tears or discolouration, and make sure everyone knows where it lives. Whether a blanket can be reused depends on how it was used: if you have unfolded one during a drill or false alarm without exposing it to flame, you can refold it and put it back. Once you have used a blanket on a fire, replace it, the material degrades after that kind of heat.

Ultimately, a fire blanket is a small, low-cost piece of kit that can stop a minor incident becoming a serious one. Keep one within reach, know how to use it, and it will do its job when it counts.

If you want to check you have the right size and type for your kitchen or site, browse our full range of fire blankets or talk to our team about what suits your space.

Frequently Asked Questions

A fire blanket smothers small, contained fires by cutting off their oxygen. It works well on cooking oil fires, clothing fires, and small appliance fires in kitchens, workshops, and labs.

Pull the tabs to release the blanket, hold it so the fabric shields your hands, and lay it gently over the flames to cover them completely. Turn off the heat source if you can reach it safely, and leave the blanket in place. Never throw it, and never use water on a cooking oil fire.

It depends on how it was used. If you unfolded one during a drill or false alarm without exposing it to flame, you can refold it and put it back. Once you have used a blanket on an actual fire, replace it, the material degrades after that heat.

Sizes run from 1m x 1m for a domestic kitchen up to 1.8m x 1.8m for larger commercial and industrial spaces. Bigger spaces with higher fire risk need a larger blanket. The minimum size under the Australian Standard is 900mm x 900mm.

Keep it within reach of where a fire is most likely to start, such as beside the stove in a kitchen, and between the risk and your exit. A blanket stored down the hall is no help while a pan fire spreads.

Look for AS/NZS 3504 on the packaging. That Australian Standard sets the performance tests and the minimum size, and it confirms the blanket has passed testing and approval.