Fire blanket
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A fire blanket is a safety device designed to extinguish small incipient (starting) fires.
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[edit] Common Uses
Fire blankets are found in a number of residential and commercial settings. They are commonly found in situations where extinguishing a fire with water would be difficult, such as grease, oil and electrical fires. They are also found where people's clothing may catch fire.
In the household, fire blankets are located in the kitchen to assist with grease fires on the stove. In commercial garages, fire blankets are located near oil storage or engine work to assist with oil and grease fires. In commercial settings where sparks are present (foundries, welding shops), fire blankets are available in case sparks ignite an employee's clothing. In some cases, fire blankets are found around electrical equipment such as computers or generators.
[edit] Construction
Fire blankets come in a range of sizes, from a small 3 foot x 3 foot (1 meter x 1 meter) square up to the size of a large bedding blanket. They are made from a fire resistant fabric such as fiberglass or aramid fibers (Nomex), or from a durable fabric such as wool treated with a fire retardant coating. From appearance alone, they seem like any thick wool blanket.
[edit] How Fire Blankets Work
In order for a fire to burn, all four elements of the fire tetrahedron must be present: heat, fuel, oxygen and a sustaining chemical chain reaction. A fire blanket either completely surrounds a burning object or is placed over a burning object and sealed closely to a solid surface around the fire. Either way, the blanket cuts off the supply of oxygen, smothering the fire.
[edit] Proper Use
Always read the instructions for your specific fire blanket before use. As with any fire, if possible, it is important to first alert others to the fire, evacuate anyone in the area and contact the fire department in case the fire can not be extinguished. If available, a fire blanket and fire extinguisher can be used. Fire blankets can be used on Class A (Ordinary Combustables), Class B (Oil, Grease, Gasoline), Class C (Electrical) and some Class D (burning metals) fires. Ensure that you have a safe exit - an escape route in case you are unable to extinguish the fire. The fire should not be between you and the exit. Open the fire blanket and hold it in front of you to shield your body (especially the face and hands) from the fire. Cover the burning material completely, ensuring there are no gaps for oxygen to reach the fire. Leave the blanket in place, allowing the material to cool for at least 30 minutes before lifting the blanket. If appropriate, shut of the gas or electrical supply if it is involved in the fire. Contact the fire department if you have not already done so.
