The Ontario Fire Marshall, along with Kingston Fire and Rescue are cautioning residents about the use of fire blankets. They are not endorsing the use of them to extinguish a fire.
An increase of internet ads featuring fire blankets that claim to save you and your home from disaster has prompted Kingston Fire and Rescue to caution residents about their use.
Fire blankets can be purchased online and in stores. They are made of 100 per cent compact structure fiberglass fabric and claim to be reusable. They also don’t burn.
While they are advertised as an effective way to extinguish a fire, such as a stove top fire, the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal does not endorse the product for consumer use.
“If you were to go up to a pot that was on fire on top of your stove, you would have to get really close to it and you’re now throwing a blanket on top of the stove top. There are a lot of things that could go wrong when you’re doing that,” said Mark Bondy, the fire inspector with Kingston Fire and Rescue.
The OFM are concerned that a fire blanket may give a false sense of security and fire safety.
Instead, Bondy suggested people use the lid of the pan to extinguish a stove top fire.
“There’s a comfort level. How many people have thrown a blanket on top of a pot that was on fire. How many people have put a lid on top of a pot. It’s that comfort level that you have when doing something like that,” said Bondy.
Although not required by law, having a fire extinguisher is beneficial and can provide space between you and the fire.
The other concern raised by the OFM is that there are no Canadian standards that apply to fire blankets and the use of fire blankets in Ontario is not required by law. They are considered by the OFM to be a non-essential product in a home.
Some fire safety tips from the OFM include:
Cooking fires: Keep a proper fitting lid near the stove when cooking. If a pot catches fire, slide the lid over the pot, turn off the stove and do not move the pot until it has cooled.
Smoke alarms: Install smoke alarms on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, the fire service recommends installing a smoke alarm in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace the battery at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
Home fire escape plan:
Develop a home fire escape plan with everyone in the household and discuss how each person will get out of the home in a fire. Practice the home fire escape plan with everyone in the household.
“When they show all these commercials and YouTube videos, the people on there are salespeople. They are not actually firefighters, but they’ve practiced it a hundred times over. So, they have mastered the skill of it. But when it comes to an actual fire emergency, you are in a fear and flight mode, some people call it panicky. You may be startled. You could bump it, you could knock it over and you could hurt yourself,” Bondy explained.