Fire blanket guide: how to use one on a pan or clothing fire

In an emergency, get everyone out first and call for help on 112 from a cellphone, or your local fire brigade. This guide is general information; always follow the manufacturer's instructions and local regulations.

A fire blanket is a sheet of fire-resistant fabric, usually woven glass fibre, that smothers a small fire by cutting off its air. It’s the simplest, safest first response to a burning pan of oil, and it can also wrap a person whose clothes have caught alight. Mount one in the kitchen, learn the steps below, and remember the golden rule: never throw water on burning oil.

What a fire blanket is for

Why water on burning oil is so dangerous

When water hits oil that’s hot enough to burn, it sinks, turns to steam instantly and expands violently. That steam throws burning oil up and out of the pan in a fireball that can reach the ceiling and anyone nearby. Fire services consistently warn: never pour water on a burning pan, and don’t try to carry it outside. A blanket is the right tool because it smothers the fire without disturbing the oil.

How to use a fire blanket on a pan fire

1. Stay calm and don’t move the pan. Carrying a burning pan spreads the fire and burns hands, arms and faces.
2. Turn off the heat, only if you can do it safely. Don’t lean over the flames to reach the controls. For a gas hob or skottel, close the cylinder valve if you can reach it.
3. Pull the blanket out of its holder by the tapes. Most quick-release containers have two tapes hanging down: pull both firmly and sharply.
4. Protect your hands. Wrap the top edge of the blanket around your hands so the blanket forms a shield between you and the fire.
5. Lay it over the pan, away from you. Hold it up in front of your face and body, then place it over the pan, moving it away from you so the flames are pushed away, not towards you. Cover the pan completely.
6. Leave it there. Don’t lift the blanket to check. UK fire service advice is to leave it in place for at least 30 minutes, until the pan has fully cooled; oil can re-ignite if air gets back in while it’s still hot.
7. Get out if it doesn’t work. If the fire isn’t out, or it’s spread beyond the pan, leave, close the door behind you and call for help: 112 from a cellphone, or your saved local municipal fire number.

Even if the fire goes out, the room may be full of smoke. Open windows once it’s safe, and call the fire brigade if there’s any chance the fire got into the extractor hood, cupboards or ceiling.

How to use a fire blanket on burning clothing

The rule for a person on fire is stop, drop and roll:

1. Stop the person running, which fans the flames.
2. Wrap them in the blanket, working from the head downwards, to smother the flames and protect their face.
3. Lay them down and roll them gently until the flames are out.
4. Cool the burn with cool running water once the fire is out, remove jewellery near the burn if it isn’t stuck, and get medical help (dial 112). Don’t remove clothing that’s stuck to the skin.

If you’re alone and your clothes catch fire, cover your face with your hands, drop to the ground and roll.

Sizes and what to look for

Common household sizes are around 1 m x 1 m and 1.2 m x 1.2 m, with larger sizes such as 1.2 m x 1.8 m for workplaces, labs and where you’d want to wrap a person. Bigger blankets cover large pans and woks more easily and are better for clothing fires.

• Standard: look for compliance with a recognised fire blanket standard such as EN 1869 (the European standard for single-use fire blankets), or a South African certification mark where the product carries one.
• Quick-release container with pull tapes, so you can open it in one movement.
• Single use. Most household blankets are designed to be used once and then replaced.
• Material: woven glass fibre is common in household blankets.

Price bands: standard 1 m x 1 m blankets in soft cases are entry-level, larger blankets in hard containers are mid-range, and specialised blankets (for lithium batteries or vehicles) are premium.

Where to mount it

• In the kitchen, near the exit, not directly above or beside the stove. You need to reach it without leaning over the fire.
• About shoulder height for the adults in the house, so you can pull the tapes straight down.
• Visible and unobstructed, not behind a door or inside a cupboard.
• Outdoor kitchens, lapas and braai areas benefit from a second blanket, especially if you cook with oil on a skottel or gas braai. See our skottel braai guide and built-in braai guide.
• Caravans and camping kits. A small blanket packs easily.

Care and replacement

• Check it every few months: the container is intact, the tapes hang free, and the blanket isn’t damaged, damp or contaminated with grease.
• Don’t wash it. Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions; many say to clean only with a dry cloth.
• Replace it after any use, or if it’s torn or worn. A used blanket may have hidden damage and grease, and could fail next time.
• Follow the manufacturer’s guidance on shelf life.

Fire blanket or fire extinguisher?

You want both. A blanket is best for pan fires and clothing fires, and it’s easy for anyone to use. A fire extinguisher handles a wider range of small fires elsewhere in the house. Powder extinguishers used too close to a pan can blast burning oil out of it, which is why a blanket is the first choice on the stove. For kitchens that deep-fry often, a wet chemical extinguisher rated for class F is designed for cooking oil; see our extinguisher types guide.

Prevent pan fires

• Never leave hot oil unattended, not even to answer the door or check the braai.
• Fill pans no more than a third full of oil.
• Watch for smoke. Smoking oil is too hot. Turn the heat down or off.
• Use a thermostat-controlled fryer rather than a pot for deep-frying.
• Keep tea towels, oven gloves and paper away from the stove.
• Don’t cook after drinking or when you’re very tired.
• Fit smoke alarms near (not in) the kitchen. See our smoke and CO detector guide.

FAQ

How do you use a fire blanket?

Turn off the heat if it’s safe, pull the blanket out by its tapes, wrap the edge around your hands, and lay it over the pan away from you so the pan is fully covered. Leave it in place until the pan has cooled completely, at least 30 minutes.

Can you reuse a fire blanket?

Most household fire blankets are designed for single use. Replace it after it’s been used on a fire, or if it’s damaged, dirty or greasy.

What size fire blanket do I need for a kitchen?

A 1 m x 1 m blanket covers most domestic pans. A 1.2 m x 1.2 m or larger blanket covers big pans and woks more easily and is better for wrapping a person.

Where should a fire blanket be mounted?

On a kitchen wall near the exit, at about shoulder height, and away from the stove so you can reach it without leaning over a fire.

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