The scariest thing about fire is the unpredictability with which it occurs. One minute you are in the kitchen cooking your favourite dishes, and the next you are running all over the place and after a fire incident. Kitchens are prone to fire accidents because that is where meals are prepared. Any of the appliances in the kitchen can easily start a small fire if there is spillage of cooking oils or fats. When this happens, you should be equipped to stop the fire.

Fire blankets are very effective when used to put out small fires, which occur quite frequently in kitchens. Here is a look at what a fire blanket is and why you need to have it in your kitchen.

What is a fire blanket?

A fire blanket is a fire protection tool used to put out small fires that are just starting. It is made of highly fire-retardant materials so that it can smother a fire by cutting off oxygen supply fuelling the fire.

Benefits of Having Fire Blankets in Kitchens

1. Ease of use: The main advantage that fire blankets have over other fire safety devices such as fire extinguishers is their ease of operation. In the face of panic, a lot of people are unable to pull the locking pin on their extinguishers. In order to smother a fire, all you need to do is reach out for a blanket and place it over the fire.
2. Lightweight: Another advantage that fire blankets bring to the table is that they are light in weight. Fire blankets used in kitchens are usually made up of fibreglass, which is both fire-resistive and lightweight. Hence, you don't have to lift a heavy extinguisher in order to put out a fire.
3. Reliability: Fire extinguishers may disappoint you when you need them the most; the chemicals in dry chemical fire extinguishers commonly used for extinguishing kitchen fires may have settled or packed down due to infrequent use of the equipment. Fire blankets are always ready for use, as they do not have any contents, locking pins or working mechanisms that can render them inoperable.
4. Adaptable: Unlike a fire extinguisher, a fire blanket allows for its application on people. It can be wrapped around the person whose clothes have caught fire to smother the fire. 

Now that you understand what a fire blanket is and the benefits of having it in your kitchen, you should walk into a local fire safety department store and get one of these fire protection devices.