Fire Blanket vs Fire Extinguisher: Which One Should You Use?

When people think about fire safety, a fire extinguisher is often the first product that comes to mind. A fire blanket serves a different purpose and may be more suitable for certain small, contained fires.

Understanding the difference between a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher helps you select the correct first-response equipment for a home, workplace or shared environment.

Neither product should be used when doing so would delay evacuation, expose the user to dense smoke or intense heat, or require someone to move between the fire and the only available escape route.

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What is a fire blanket?

A fire blanket is a flexible sheet made from fire-resistant material, usually densely woven fibreglass fabric. It is placed carefully over a small fire to restrict the oxygen supply and contain the burning material.

Blusdekens zijn:

• intended for small, contained fires that can be covered completely;
• free from powder, foam, propellant and chemical extinguishing residue;
• compact and suitable for visible wall-mounted storage;
• particularly relevant to cooking-oil, pan and clothing-fire risks; and
• simple to deploy after the user has read and understood the instructions.

They are commonly installed in homes, kitchens, care facilities, schools, workplaces, caravans and boats.

How Fire Blankets Work and When to Use Them Safely →

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What is a fire extinguisher?

A fire extinguisher is a pressurised device that releases an extinguishing agent such as water, foam, powder, wet chemical or carbon dioxide.

Different extinguishing agents are designed for different fire types. Using the wrong extinguisher may be ineffective or dangerous. Water-based equipment, for example, must not be used on burning cooking oil or on live electrical equipment unless specifically approved for that application.

Brandblussers:

• allow the user to attack a fire from a greater distance;
• are selected according to the expected fire type and environment;
• require correct aiming and operation;
• may leave powder, foam or water residue depending on the agent; and
• require inspection, servicing or replacement according to applicable procedures.

They are widely installed in commercial buildings, workplaces, public spaces and other locations covered by formal fire-safety arrangements.

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Key differences between a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher

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Is a fire blanket easier to use?

A fire blanket has no safety pin, pressure cylinder, hose or extinguishing agent to select. Its basic operating principle is straightforward: remove it from the packaging, protect the hands behind it and place it carefully over the entire fire.

That does not mean deployment is risk-free. The user must still:

• recognise that the fire is small enough to cover;
• maintain a clear escape route;
• avoid reaching over exposed flames;
• avoid disturbing a pan or burning liquid;
• switch off the heat or power source where this can be done safely; and
• leave the blanket in place until the fire source has cooled fully.

A fire extinguisher also requires familiarity. The user must select the correct equipment, remove the safety device, aim correctly and operate it from an appropriate distance.

Both products are safer when people know their location, purpose and basic operating instructions before an emergency occurs.

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When is a fire blanket the better choice?

A fire blanket may be the more appropriate first-response product for:

• a small pan fire involving cooking oil or fat;
• a small fire involving a compact cooking appliance;
• a clothing fire where a sufficiently large blanket is available;
• a small electrical appliance fire after the power has been isolated;
• a burning object that can be covered completely; and
• locations where avoiding powder or foam residue is particularly important.

For a pan fire, place the blanket gently over the entire pan. Do not throw it from a distance, pour water onto the oil or carry the pan outside.

Fire Blankets for Kitchen Fires →

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When is a fire extinguisher the better choice?

An appropriate fire extinguisher may be preferable when:

• the burning object cannot be covered completely;
• the user needs to maintain more distance from the fire;
• the identified fire type requires a specific extinguishing agent;
• the site fire-risk assessment specifies extinguishers for that location; or
• trained personnel are expected to use the equipment.

An extinguisher is not an invitation to fight a growing or uncontrolled fire. If the fire is spreading, smoke is increasing, the room is becoming unsafe or the exit may be blocked, evacuate immediately and contact the emergency services.

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What about cooking-oil fires?

A small pan fire can often be covered effectively with a correctly sized fire blanket. The heat source should be switched off only when it is safe to do so. The blanket must remain in place until the pan and oil have cooled fully.

Water must never be poured onto burning cooking oil or fat. An unsuitable extinguisher can also spread burning oil or create a violent reaction. Only equipment specifically intended for cooking-oil and fat fires should be used for that purpose.

The DVM 1 × 1 m fire blanket series has been independently tested by TÜV SÜD under controlled cooking-oil fire-test conditions in accordance with EN 1869:2019.

View the TÜV SÜD test report and fire-test videos →

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What about clothing fires?

When clothing catches fire, the person should stop, drop and roll. Another person may use a sufficiently large fire blanket to help smother the flames when this can be done safely.

Within the DVM range, the 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket provides greater body coverage than the 1 × 1 m version and is the preferred DVM size where clothing-fire preparedness is an identified risk.

Keep the face and airway clear. Contact the emergency services and cool the affected skin with cool running water for at least 20 minutes where possible. Do not remove clothing that has melted or adhered to the skin.

Fire Blankets for Clothing Fires →

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Do homes and workplaces need both?

In many environments, fire blankets and fire extinguishers complement each other rather than compete with each other.

A fire blanket may provide:

• a compact first response for small pan and cooking-oil fires;
• an option for clothing-fire intervention when the size is suitable;
• suppression without discharging powder, foam or water; and
• a simple product for clearly defined, fully coverable risks.

A fire extinguisher may provide:

• greater operating distance;
• an agent selected for a particular fire class;
• coverage for risks that cannot be fully enclosed by a blanket; and
• equipment required by the workplace fire-risk assessment or regulations.

The correct combination should be based on the premises, fire risks, occupants, national requirements and emergency plan.

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Fire blanket or fire extinguisher: summary

Choose a fire blanket when:

• the fire is small and contained;
• the burning area can be covered completely;
• a pan, cooking-oil, clothing or similar coverable fire is involved;
• the blanket can be reached without approaching through flames or smoke; and
• a clear escape route remains available.

Use an appropriate extinguisher when:

• the identified risk requires a specific extinguishing agent;
• the fire cannot be completely covered with a blanket;
• more operating distance is required;
• the equipment is specified in the fire-safety plan; and
• the user can operate it without delaying evacuation.

Evacuate instead of attempting either method when the fire is spreading, visibility is reduced, intense heat is developing or personal safety is uncertain.

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Choose the correct DVM fire blanket

For most standard domestic pans and compact kitchen risks, a 1 × 1 m fire blanket provides practical coverage. Choose the larger 1.2 × 1.8 m version where wider equipment or clothing-fire preparedness requires more surface area.

What Size Fire Blanket Do I Need? →

View the kitchen fire blanket guide →

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Explore fire blanket applications

• Blusdekens voor keukenbranden
• Fire Blankets for Clothing and Person Fires
• Fire Blankets for Workplace Safety
• Blusdekens voor Kaars- en Woonkamerbranden
• Fire Blankets for Car, BBQ and Outdoor Fires

For further answers about fire types, safe use, EN 1869:2019, sizes, inspection and replacement, visit our Fire Blanket FAQs.