Best Fire Blankets for Clothing & Person Fires (EU)
Best Fire Blankets for Clothing & Person Fires (EU)
When clothing catches fire, immediate action is essential. Flames can spread quickly over fabric and cause severe burns within seconds. The person should stop, drop and roll. A fire blanket can then be used by another person to help smother the flames when this can be done safely.
For further guidance, read: Fire Blankets for Clothing Fires .
What to do when someone’s clothing catches fire
- Stop: do not run, because movement feeds air to the flames.
- Drop: lie down to reduce the risk of flames reaching the face.
- Roll: roll on the ground to help smother the flames.
- Use a fire blanket or other heavy fabric when it can be applied safely.
- Call the emergency services and arrange urgent medical assessment.
A fire blanket is an additional means of smothering the flames. It should not delay stop, drop and roll, evacuation or emergency assistance.
After the flames have been extinguished, cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes where possible. Remove jewellery and loose clothing near the injury, but do not remove material that has melted or become stuck to the skin. Do not apply ice, creams, grease or butter.
Independent TÜV SÜD Fire Testing
The DVM 1 × 1 m fire blanket series is supported by independent TÜV SÜD testing carried out under controlled fire-test conditions in accordance with EN 1869:2019.
- ✔ Official TÜV SÜD test report available
- ✔ Cooking-oil and heptane fire-test videos published
- ✔ Independent third-party test evidence
- ✔ European product documentation available
The TÜV documentation provides independent evidence for the tested 1 × 1 m fire blanket series. It is not a separate test of use on a person. For clothing-fire applications, correct blanket dimensions, safe deployment and immediate burn first aid remain essential.
Why greater body coverage matters
When a fire blanket is used on a person, it must provide enough material to cover and smother the burning clothing without covering the person’s face or airway. A larger blanket gives the assisting person more material to wrap around the shoulders, body and legs.
Within the DVM range, the 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket is therefore the recommended choice where clothing-fire use is an identified risk.
Choose the full-size fire blanket →
The 1.2 × 1.8 m size provides substantially more body coverage than the compact 1 × 1 m version.
Choose the correct size
1.2 × 1.8 m — recommended for clothing-fire risks
The larger DVM blanket provides enough surface area to wrap around most of the body from the shoulders downward. Keep the face and airway clear and do not press melted or burning fabric unnecessarily against the skin.
The person should be placed on the ground rather than left standing, because flames travel upward toward the face and head.
Shop 1.2 × 1.8 m Fire Blanket →
1 × 1 m — compact fire protection
The 1 × 1 m version is intended primarily for smaller, contained fires such as pan or appliance fires. It provides less body coverage and is therefore not the preferred DVM size where clothing-fire protection is the principal purpose.
For further size guidance, read: What Size Fire Blanket Do I Need?
How to use a fire blanket on a person
- Tell the person to stop moving and drop to the floor.
- Call the emergency services or ask someone nearby to call.
- Remove the fire blanket by pulling the release tabs.
- Hold the blanket so that it also protects your hands and body.
- Approach from a safe direction, avoiding exposed flames.
- Wrap the blanket around the person from the shoulders downward.
- Keep the person’s face, mouth and nose uncovered.
- Continue smothering the flames while the person remains on the floor.
Do not wrap the blanket tightly around the neck or face. Do not attempt to remove clothing that has melted or adhered to the skin.
Burn first aid after the flames are extinguished
Once the burning process has stopped, cool affected skin with cool running water for at least 20 minutes where possible. Cooling should begin as soon as possible. Do not use ice or very cold water.
Remove rings, watches, belts and loose clothing near the injury before swelling develops, but leave anything firmly stuck to the burn in place. Cover the cooled burn loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing while waiting for medical assistance.
Clothing fires can cause deep and extensive burns even when the damaged area initially appears limited. Emergency medical assessment is therefore important.
Storage and placement guidance
Safety Bag — portable and accessible
The flexible bag is suitable for homes, classrooms, corridors, workshops and first-aid locations. Install or store it where an adult or trained staff member can reach it immediately without moving toward the likely fire source.
Shop Safety Bag Fire Blanket →
Premium Box — visible wall-mounted protection
The rigid box provides clear wall-mounted storage and helps users identify the blanket’s location quickly. It is suitable for schools, care facilities, workplaces, public buildings and other locations where visibility and consistent placement are important.
Shop Premium Box Fire Blanket →
For placement guidance, read: Where Should You Keep a Fire Blanket?
European fire-blanket requirements
DVM International fire blankets are manufactured for use in accordance with EN 1869:2019. The standard covers requirements and test methods for the complete fire blanket, including construction, dimensions, deployment, fire performance, marking and instructions.
DVM fire blankets are made from densely woven fibreglass fabric of at least 430 g/m². Fabric weight is only one aspect of product quality; seams, pull tabs, dimensions, packaging, instructions and documented performance must also be considered.
For more information about safe use, inspection, sizing, EN 1869:2019 and TÜV testing, visit our Fire Blanket FAQs.
Choose greater coverage for clothing-fire preparedness
Where clothing fires form part of the identified risk — for example in homes, schools, care facilities, laboratories or workplaces — the DVM 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket provides the greater body coverage required for this application.
The presence of a fire blanket should always be supported by staff awareness, stop-drop-roll instruction, emergency communication and appropriate burn first aid.