Fire Blanket Usage – Fire is one of the most serious threats to lives and property. Whether we’re at home, at work, or anywhere else, it’s important to be prepared to react when a fire breaks out. One good strategy for preparedness is to have a fire blanket on hand. Fire blankets are easy to use, inexpensive, and very effective at containing small fires.
They can help us minimize the danger to lives and property by controlling a fire before the fire department can arrive. Here are some basic steps to installing and using a fire blanket, along with some advice on wrapping things up after the fire is out. Click here for the Best-Selling Fire Safety Products.
Mounting the Blanket
Fire blankets are stored in a box that mounts to a wall or other vertical surface. If you are in charge of installing the fire blanket, be sure to install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Verify that the bracket is firmly attached to the wall. If it is not, the entire box will come off when you attempt to open it.
Choose a location that is a safe distance away from likely fire sources. If you install the blanket near a stove, heater, or other ignition areas, the fire may prevent you from safely reaching the blanket. Install it in a visible, accessible location away from potential fire locations.
Assess the Fire
Sometimes an external source of fuel or heat is the only reason there is a fire to begin with. Many kitchen fires will quickly go out if you turn off the burners. If you can safely reach the knobs, try that first. If the fire is elsewhere, turn off electricity and gas before using the blanket. This also may let the fire fade out, but it will help even if it doesn’t fully extinguish the fire because it will reduce the odds that the fire will reignite.
Fire blankets are effective on smaller fires. Just how much fire can a fire blanket handle? There’s no set measurement, but the best advice is not to attempt to use the blanket if you think the fire is too big. As a rule, something the size of an office trash can is a reasonable fire to attempt to control with a fire blanket.
Open the Fire Blanket Container
This is where installation matters. The box should snap open easily and give you immediate access to the fire blanket. Shake it out like a bed sheet so that all the folds are opened up and the blanket’s size is maximized. Do not begin to approach the fire until you have the blanket fully unfolded.
Hold the blanket with its handles facing you, and be sure to use the handles. Never hold the fire blanket by its edges. Using the handles will ensure that you keep yourself away from any fire that may expand beyond the dimensions of the blanket and burn you. It will also provide a much more secure grip than simply grabbing the edges of the blanket.
Approach the Fire
Your next step is to move toward the fire. Hold the blanket firmly by its handles and raise it as high as you can without obstructing your vision. Make sure that it is not hanging low enough for you to trip over it.
This is where it helps to have the blanket installed a little further away from the fire area. You’ll have room to shake out the blanket and get a few steps carrying it before you get to the fire. Once you’re able to walk safely while carrying the blanket, you’re ready to move to the fire.
Place the Blanket Quickly
Once you’re ready to approach the fire, do so decisively. Walk toward the fire with the blanket fully extended outward and upward to the point of your line of sight. Don’t run, but walk quickly toward the fire and place the blanket over it in one swift motion.
Never pull back with the blanket. Once it is on, you must leave it on. Any movement back toward yourself could cause the fire to flash toward you, leading to serious injuries. If you are off the target and the fire is only partially covered, surrender the blanket and do not try to deploy the same blanket again.
Follow Up
A common mistake people make with fire blankets is removing them too soon. Remember that the blanket removes oxygen from the fire, but it leaves heat and fuel. If you allow the oxygen to return before the heat has dissipated, you can easily see re-ignition. Leave the blanket in place for at least thirty minutes.
If no one has called the fire department, do so now. Explain that you have placed a fire blanket on the fire (be clear that it is an approved fire blanket, not an ordinary blanket) and that the fire appears to be out. Firefighters will assess the situation when they arrive, and if the blanket can be safely removed, they will do so. They will also be able to remove smoke from the building quickly and safely.
If you have a replacement fire blanket, put it in service. If not, notify everyone in the home or workplace that there will be no fire blanket available until a new one arrives. Make a plan for other methods of extinguishment until then.
Even with the fastest response times and best equipment, fire departments cannot take action as quickly as the occupants of a building. A fire blanket can be a very effective tool for minimizing the damage done by a fire.
The keys are to have the blanket properly installed, properly deployed, and properly handled after the incident. Always make sure the fire department checks everything out afterward.
With a fire blanket and a good plan, you can greatly improve your chances of quickly containing a fire in your home, workplace, or other location.