Fire blankets in the kitchen: do they work, and how to use one

Do fire blankets work on pan fires?

They can, but results vary. In 1998, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff tested consumer fire blankets. Some showed potential to put out fairly large cooking oil fires, but in general they did not perform consistently. In a 2013 test by the Dutch consumer product safety authority, 4 of 11 blankets caught fire on a burning pan of oil. A fifth had not put the fire out after 17 minutes.

A fire blanket is a sheet of fire-resistant fabric, usually woven glass fiber, folded into a pouch. It works by cutting off the air to the fire. The Country Fire Authority, a fire service in Victoria, Australia, calls it ideal for cooking fat fires. The test results above are more mixed.

The CPSC staff also said blankets could help cut cooktop fires, if a voluntary standard dealt with their problems. UL took part in that meeting and raised a concern of its own: using a blanket puts you very close to the fire. In the Dutch test, the blankets that caught fire did so within 37 seconds to 2 minutes, and several made a lot of smoke.

Pan fires are common, so this matters. NFPA's Home Cooking Fires report looked at home cooking fires that started with food or cooking materials. In 51 percent of them, cooking oil, fat or grease caught fire first (2017 to 2021 data).

How do you use a fire blanket on a kitchen fire?

Pull down sharply on the tabs to release it. Hold it in front of you with the edges rolled over your hands. Lay it gently over the pan. Do not throw it. Turn off the heat. Leave it in place and do not lift it to check. Then call 911. These steps follow the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, Australia.

Here are the same steps in more detail, from the Country Fire Authority fact sheet:

1. 1. Pull down sharply on the tabs hanging from the bottom of the pouch. The blanket drops out.
2. 2. Hold the blanket up in front of you. Roll the top edges back over your hands to protect them.
3. 3. Place the blanket over the pan, keeping your hands and face behind it. Do not throw it.
4. 4. Lay it down gently. Do not flick the far edge over the fire, because flames can run up the blanket to your hands.
5. 5. Turn off the heat source.
6. 6. Leave the blanket where it is. Do not lift it to see if the flames are out.
7. 7. Call 911 and ask for the fire department.

Leave the pan where it is. The Red Cross warns that moving a burning pan can cause serious injury or spread the fire. The Country Fire Authority also says to use a blanket only if you feel physically and mentally able to do it safely.

How long should you leave a fire blanket on a pan?

Leave it until the pan is cool. The Country Fire Authority says at least 15 minutes, or until the heat is gone, and not to touch the blanket until it is cool. Do not lift a corner to check. In the Dutch test, one fire was still burning under a blanket after 17 minutes. It flared up again when the blanket came off.

Do not skip this step. Lifting the blanket early lets air back in. NFPA gives the same warning about pan lids: do not remove the cover, because the fire could start again, and let the pan cool for a long time. Turn the burner off, step back and wait. On an electric stove the element stays hot after you switch it off, so the wait can be longer.

What standards apply to kitchen fire blankets?

In Europe the standard is EN 1869. Its 2019 edition replaced the 1997 one and covers single-use blankets for use by one person. Australia uses AS/NZS 3504. In the U.S., the document we found is ASTM F1989, a specification for cooking fire suppression blankets. We could not find a UL standard or a UL listing for kitchen fire blankets.

• · Europe, EN 1869: the 2019 edition specifies fire blankets that are not reusable and are meant for use by one person.
• · Australia and New Zealand, AS/NZS 3504: the Country Fire Authority says to buy a blanket with this mark, measuring at least 1 meter by 1 meter.
• · United States, ASTM F1989: titled Standard Specification for Cooking Fire Suppression Blankets. The 05 in its number refers to 2005, the year of that edition.
• · UL: we could not find a UL standard or a UL listing written for kitchen fire blankets. If a seller says "UL certified," ask which standard and which test.

A standard printed on the box is not proof. The Dutch authority found that 8 of the 12 blankets it sampled did not meet EN 1869's labeling rules. It concluded that printing a version of EN 1869 on the packaging is no guarantee the blanket meets the standard. Look for a mark from an independent certification body, and buy from a seller you can contact.

Should you use a fire blanket, a fire extinguisher or a lid?

For a burning pan, use a lid or a baking sheet. That is the advice of NFPA, the U.S. Fire Administration and the Red Cross. A fire blanket can cover a pan when no lid fits. An extinguisher covers more kinds of fire, but the Red Cross says most portable ones empty in 8 seconds. For a fire inside the oven, keep the door shut instead.

Lid or baking sheet

This is what U.S. agencies teach. The U.S. Fire Administration says to keep the pan where it is and slide a lid or baking sheet on top. Then turn the burner off and keep the lid on until the pan is cool. NFPA says to keep a lid nearby every time you cook. A lid costs nothing extra and is already in your kitchen. Use one that covers the whole pan.

Fire blanket

Useful when no lid fits, or the pan is too large. It can also smother a clothing fire. The tradeoffs: quality varies, you must get close to the fire, and it is single use. The cooking advice we read from NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration does not mention fire blankets at all.

Fire extinguisher

It works on more kinds of fire, including burning paper, cloth and wiring, if it is a multipurpose A-B-C model. Use one only if the fire is small, others are getting out and you have a clear way out. Our kitchen fire extinguisher guide explains which type to buy and how to use it. For a fire inside the oven, keep the door closed and see our oven fire guide.

Where should you mount a fire blanket in the kitchen?

Near the kitchen doorway, not next to the stove. The Country Fire Authority says a stove-top fire could stop you from reaching a blanket kept by the cooking area. By the entrance, you can grab it and still get out if the fire grows. It should be quick and easy to reach.

• · Mount it on the wall near the kitchen entrance, at a height adults can reach in one move.
• · Keep the pull tabs hanging free. Do not tuck them in or hang things over them.
• · Show everyone in the home where it is and how the tabs work.
• · Check the pouch now and then for damage, and follow the maker's instructions for upkeep.

When should you skip the blanket and get out?

A blanket is for a small fire you can reach safely. Get everyone out and call 911 from outside if:

• · The fire has spread beyond the pan to cabinets, walls or the hood.
• · The fire does not go out, or you do not feel comfortable covering it. NFPA gives this advice for lids.
• · The room is filling with smoke.
• · You would have to reach across the flames to place the blanket.

The U.S. Fire Administration rule is short: when in doubt, just get out. Close the door behind you, as NFPA advises, to help hold the fire in. For grease fires in detail, read how to put out a grease fire.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• · Country Fire Authority (Victoria, Australia), Fire blankets fact sheet (August 2019)
• · NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority), Factsheet brandblusdekens, fire blanket test (December 6, 2013, in Dutch)
• · CPSC, Meeting log on residential fire blanket and extinguisher testing (January 13, 1998)
• · ASTM F1989-05, Standard Specification for Cooking Fire Suppression Blankets (read October 2026)
• · SIS, SS-EN 1869:2019 Fire blankets, scope and edition record (approved August 23, 2019)
• · NFPA, Cooking safety (2020 to 2024 data, read October 2026)
• · NFPA, Home Cooking Fires report (September 2023, 2017 to 2021 data)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Cooking fire safety (page reviewed September 28, 2026)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Cook Safely flyer (read October 2026)
• · American Red Cross, Home fire preparedness (read October 2026)
• · American Red Cross, Fire safety equipment (read October 2026)
• · London Fire Brigade, Cooking and fire safety (read October 2026)