Fire Safety in Garages, Parking Areas & Recreational Spaces

How can you protect people from fire in garages, parking areas, caravans, campsites and recreational spaces? These environments have different hazards, but they share one important concern: a small incident can quickly become dangerous when smoke, limited escape routes, fuel, electrical equipment or combustible materials are involved.

Conventional fire blankets may provide a useful first-response option for certain small, contained fires. However, they are not designed to extinguish vehicle fires, control spreading fuel fires or manage lithium-ion battery thermal runaway.

This guide focuses on personal safety, fire prevention, evacuation and the limited but potentially useful role of fire blankets in garages and recreational environments.

Personal Safety Comes Before Firefighting

In a garage, underground parking facility, caravan or boat, smoke and heat can make escape difficult long before the entire area is burning.

People may be unfamiliar with the surroundings, have limited visibility or be separated from the nearest exit by the developing fire.

In an emergency, the priorities are to:

1. Warn anyone who may be in danger.
2. Move away from the fire and smoke.
3. Use the nearest safe escape route.
4. Alert the emergency services.
5. Remain outside the affected area until it is declared safe.

In the European Union, the emergency number is 112.

Only consider using firefighting equipment if the fire is very small and contained, you understand the equipment, the environment is safe enough to approach and you can escape immediately if the attempt fails.

Never delay evacuation to retrieve a fire blanket or protect property.

Fire Safety in Private Garages

A private garage may be used for much more than parking a car.

It may contain bicycles, electrical tools, chargers, paints, solvents, cleaning products, cardboard, stored household items and equipment used for repairs.

These activities and materials can create several different fire risks.

Common Hazards in a Home Garage

• Electrical tools and damaged cables.
• Battery chargers and rechargeable equipment.
• Combustible packaging and stored materials.
• Paints, solvents and flammable liquids.
• Heating equipment and hot work.
• Fuel-powered machinery.
• Poor housekeeping or blocked exits.

Good fire prevention begins with keeping the garage organised, storing hazardous substances appropriately and maintaining electrical equipment in safe condition.

Keep access to doors and escape routes clear.

Where Might a Conventional Fire Blanket Help?

A suitable fire blanket may be useful for a very small, accessible fire involving an object or contained material that can be completely covered.

However, it should not be used to approach a burning vehicle, a spreading fuel fire or a battery undergoing thermal runaway.

A garage fire involving fuel, machinery or significant smoke can become dangerous rapidly.

If the fire is spreading or there is any doubt about safe access, evacuate and contact the emergency services.

Fire Safety in Underground Parking Garages

Underground and enclosed parking facilities create particular concerns for personal safety.

Vehicles, structural columns, ramps and enclosed spaces can complicate movement and visibility during an emergency.

Smoke can spread through the facility and make it difficult for people to identify safe exits.

Important Safety Priorities

• Know the location of pedestrian escape routes.
• Follow the building's emergency signs and instructions.
• Do not enter an area filled with smoke.
• Do not return to a vehicle to collect belongings.
• Do not attempt to drive through smoke or flames.
• Follow instructions from emergency personnel.

Fire safety in a parking garage depends primarily on appropriate building design, detection, alarms, evacuation provisions and other protective systems required for the premises.

A conventional fire blanket has only a limited role in such an environment.

It must never be treated as equipment for covering or extinguishing a burning vehicle.

Electric Vehicle Fires Require a Different Approach

Electric vehicles introduce additional considerations because high-voltage battery incidents may involve lithium-ion thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway can generate intense heat, flammable gases and the possibility of propagation or reignition.

A conventional fire blanket manufactured for small, contained fires under EN 1869:2019 is not intended to cover an entire vehicle or manage these hazards.

Specialised EV Fire Limitation Blankets

Specialised EV Fire Limitation Blankets are a different category of fire safety equipment.

They are designed for particular fire containment or limitation applications involving vehicles, rather than ordinary domestic fire blanket use.

DVM International is developing a 6 × 8 m EV Fire Limitation Blanket for this specialist market.

The product is being evaluated separately from DVM's conventional fire blankets, with reference to the technical requirements relevant to vehicle fire limitation blankets.

Such equipment should be considered only within appropriate professional emergency procedures and with personnel trained for the hazards involved.

Even a specialised vehicle fire limitation blanket should not be assumed to stop thermal runaway inside a battery pack or eliminate the risk of flammable gas release.

For detailed information about the capabilities and limitations of this product category, consult DVM's dedicated EV Fire Safety articles.

Fire Safety in Caravans and Motorhomes

Caravans and motorhomes combine living, cooking, sleeping and electrical facilities within a relatively small space.

That makes early warning and rapid escape particularly important.

Depending on the layout, there may be only one practical exit.

Fire and rescue authorities recommend suitable smoke alarms, appropriate fire extinguishers, safe gas installations and a clear escape plan.

Cooking and Heating Risks

Cooking appliances, gas installations and heating equipment should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Keep curtains, towels, clothing and other combustible materials away from burners and hot surfaces.

Never leave cooking unattended.

Do not use a cooking appliance as a space heater.

Where fuel-burning appliances are present, suitable ventilation and carbon monoxide protection are also important.

Where Should a Fire Blanket Be Kept?

A conventional fire blanket may be a useful addition for certain small, contained cooking fires in a caravan or motorhome.

It should be positioned where it can be reached without moving towards the flames, preferably near a safe exit.

It must not obstruct the door or other emergency equipment.

All occupants should know where the fire blanket and other safety equipment are located.

However, if a fire develops rapidly in the confined space, leaving immediately is more important than attempting to extinguish it.

Gas Cylinders and LPG: Important Limitations

Gas is widely used in caravans, motorhomes, outdoor cooking areas and some recreational boats.

Leaking LPG can create a serious fire or explosion hazard, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

A conventional fire blanket is not suitable for controlling a gas leak or making a damaged gas installation safe.

Important precautions include:

• Use approved equipment and suitable connections.
• Store cylinders in their designated, properly ventilated locations.
• Keep cylinders away from heat and ignition sources.
• Inspect hoses and fittings according to the applicable instructions.
• Maintain required ventilation openings.
• Have gas installations serviced by appropriately qualified personnel.

If a gas leak is suspected, avoid flames and anything that could create a spark. Do not operate electrical switches in the affected area.

Shut off the gas supply only if this can be done safely, evacuate and seek appropriate emergency assistance.

Never attempt to extinguish a gas-fed flame with a conventional fire blanket while gas continues to escape.

Fire Safety on Campsites

Campsites bring tents, caravans, motorhomes, cooking equipment and recreational activities into relatively close proximity.

A fire can spread from one unit to another, particularly where combustible materials or vegetation are present.

Fire safety begins with understanding the campsite's rules and emergency arrangements.

Practical Precautions for Campers

• Identify emergency exits and assembly points.
• Know where the campsite's firefighting equipment is located.
• Keep access routes clear.
• Follow the site's rules for barbecues, fire pits and open flames.
• Keep cooking appliances away from tents, awnings and combustible materials.
• Use gas cylinders and electrical connections correctly.
• Do not allow rubbish or combustible materials to accumulate.
• Keep a torch available for nighttime emergencies.

Fire services warn against cooking inside tents because of the risk of fire and carbon monoxide exposure.

A fire blanket may be useful for certain small, contained cooking incidents in an appropriate setting, but it cannot make unsafe cooking practices acceptable.

For tent fires, gas-cylinder incidents or rapidly spreading fires, move people away and alert the emergency services.

Barbecues and Outdoor Cooking Areas

Barbecues and outdoor cooking equipment create risks from flames, hot fat, fuel and nearby combustible materials.

The first priority is prevention.

Place equipment on stable surfaces and maintain safe distances from tents, awnings, furniture, vegetation and other combustible objects.

Never use petrol or other unsuitable accelerants to light a barbecue.

Keep children and bystanders away from hot cooking equipment.

Can a Fire Blanket Help with a Barbecue Fire?

A conventional fire blanket may be suitable for certain small, accessible fires that can be completely covered without disturbing burning materials.

However, a large charcoal fire, a gas-fed flame, a spreading grease fire or a fire involving nearby structures may be unsuitable for blanket use.

Never approach an unstable or rapidly developing barbecue fire merely because a fire blanket is available.

For more detailed guidance on cooking-oil and fat fires, consult DVM's dedicated article on fire blankets for kitchens and cooking fires.

Fire Safety on Recreational Boats

Recreational boats can combine fuel systems, electrical equipment, cooking appliances and confined accommodation.

A fire on board can be especially dangerous because escape options may be limited and emergency services may not be immediately available.

Official boating safety guidance recommends maintaining fuel, gas and electrical systems, keeping escape routes clear and preparing an emergency plan for everyone on board.

Fire Blankets in Boat Galleys

A suitable conventional fire blanket may be useful for certain small, contained cooking fires in a galley.

It should be stored where it can be reached safely, close to the relevant risk but without blocking access to an exit.

However, a conventional fire blanket is not intended to control an engine-compartment fire, a spreading fuel fire or a gas leak.

Boats should have the firefighting and emergency equipment appropriate to their type, operation and applicable regulations.

Occupants should know how to raise the alarm, communicate their position and follow the vessel's emergency procedures.

Hobby Garages, Workshops and Recreational Buildings

Hobby workshops and recreational outbuildings may contain tools, batteries, solvents, adhesives, heaters and other potential ignition sources.

Good housekeeping, safe storage and electrical maintenance are essential.

When working with equipment that produces heat or sparks, use the protective measures appropriate to the activity.

A conventional fire blanket may have a limited role for a suitable small, contained fire, but it is not a substitute for specialist welding protection, appropriate extinguishers or safe working procedures.

Battery charging areas, flammable liquid storage and other higher-risk activities require particular attention.

For detailed professional applications and limitations, see DVM's guide to fire blankets in professional environments.

When Should You Use a Fire Blanket — and When Should You Leave?

The decision to attempt firefighting should always be based on personal safety.

Situation	Recommended priority
Very small, contained fire that can be covered safely	A suitable fire blanket may be considered if the user understands its operation and has a clear escape route.
Fire spreading beyond a small object or container	Evacuate and alert the emergency services.
Smoke accumulating in a garage or enclosed space	Leave immediately using a safe route; do not enter smoke.
Vehicle fire	Move away, warn others and call the emergency services.
Suspected EV battery thermal runaway	Keep clear and leave specialist response to trained personnel.
Gas leak or gas-cylinder fire	Evacuate and seek emergency assistance; isolate gas only if safe.
Rapidly developing fire inside a caravan or boat	Prioritise evacuation and emergency communication.

A fire blanket is only a possible first-response tool for a limited range of small fires. It is not a reason to remain in an unsafe environment.

Choosing a Conventional Fire Blanket for Recreational Use

Where a conventional fire blanket is appropriate, select a product with clear operating instructions and credible evidence of performance.

EN 1869:2019 is the relevant European product standard for conventional fire blankets.

DVM International offers independently TÜV SÜD-tested fire blankets in two sizes:

• 1 × 1 m: A compact option for suitable small, contained fires.
• 1.2 × 1.8 m: A larger option where additional coverage is required.

Both DVM sizes successfully underwent cooking-oil fire-performance testing relevant to Class F fires under defined laboratory conditions.

The independent test reports are available for examination:

• TÜV SÜD Report TC.26.04.002098 — DVM 1 × 1 m.
• TÜV SÜD Report TC.26.10.006260 — DVM 1.2 × 1.8 m.

The reports demonstrate performance under specified test conditions. They do not establish suitability for vehicle fires, battery thermal runaway or other specialist hazards.

For more detailed purchasing criteria, consult the DVM Fire Blanket Buying Guide.

A Personal Fire Safety Checklist

Whether you use a garage, caravan, campsite or recreational boat, the following questions can help identify important safety gaps.

1. Do you know the safest way out if a fire starts?
2. Are exits and access routes clear?
3. Are suitable smoke alarms and other warning devices installed where appropriate?
4. Are electrical equipment, batteries and charging systems used safely?
5. Are gas cylinders, fuel and flammable materials stored correctly?
6. Do you know how to contact the emergency services and provide your location?
7. Is appropriate firefighting equipment available for the identified risks?
8. Can the equipment be reached without approaching a fire?
9. Do all occupants understand when evacuation is the only safe option?
10. Are the applicable site, building or vessel safety requirements being followed?

A fire blanket can contribute to preparedness, but it should always be part of a broader approach to prevention, early warning and safe evacuation.

Conclusion: Protect People First

Garages, parking facilities, caravans, campsites and recreational boats all present different fire hazards.

What they share is the need for early warning, safe escape routes and appropriate emergency procedures.

A conventional fire blanket may be useful for certain small, contained fires, particularly where a suitable cooking or work-related risk has been identified.

It must not be used as a substitute for specialist protection against vehicle fires, fuel incidents, gas hazards or lithium-ion battery thermal runaway.

Specialised EV Fire Limitation Blankets belong to a separate professional product category and require their own technical evaluation and operating procedures.

The most important fire safety decision is knowing when to leave. Protecting people always takes priority over attempting to extinguish a fire.

References and Further Reading

1. Veiligheidsregio Zuid-Holland Zuid, Netherlands. Brandveilig kamperen. Guidance on camping, gas installations, electrical connections and personal safety. Read the Dutch fire safety guidance.
2. Veiligheidsregio Noord-Holland Noord, Netherlands. Een veilig verblijf in je caravan of camper. Guidance on smoke alarms, carbon monoxide, extinguishers and safe gas use. Read the Dutch fire service guidance.
3. Government of Ireland. Fire Safety in Caravans. Advice on evacuation, firefighting equipment, gas cylinders and campsite safety. Read the Irish government guidance.
4. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, United Kingdom. Camping and Caravan Safety. Advice on tents, cooking equipment, fires and escape. Read the fire service guidance.
5. UK Government, Home Office. Fire Safety on Boats. Guidance on onboard fuel, electrical systems, evacuation and fire blankets. Read the boating fire safety guidance.
6. Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Fire Safety Measures for a Building. Building fire safety and evacuation requirements. Read the Dutch business guidance.
7. European Committee for Standardization (CEN). EN 1869:2019, Fire blankets. European product standard for conventional fire blankets.
8. TÜV SÜD. Test Report TC.26.04.002098. Independent EN 1869:2019 testing of DVM 1 × 1 m fire blankets. View report and verification information.
9. TÜV SÜD. Test Report TC.26.10.006260. Independent EN 1869:2019 testing of DVM 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blankets. View report and verification information.
10. DVM International B.V. Fire Blanket Documentation Hub. Resources for Buyers, Users and Inspectors.