You need a fire blanket

Michael Restin

23.7.2020

Translation: machine translated

For years it hangs on the wall as a fiery red dust catcher. Then there's a fire in the kitchen. One shock later, I realise: I, you, we should all have a fire blanket to hand.

A bang. Shards of glass rain through the flat. Somewhere in the kitchen there is hissing, liquid is leaking. Shortly after the small explosion, there is already a fire. An electrical appliance has caught fire, the flames quickly rise and flicker on the wall cupboards. It is a surreal moment. It takes a few seconds for the brain to realise what is happening.

While the first thin clouds of smoke billow through the flat, we run over the broken glass to the scene of the fire and pull the fire blanket out of its holder. We lay it over the flames, press the edges down and try to smother the fire. The air becomes thick and acrid from the burning plastic, the children scream, I send them out and am about to call the fire brigade when my wife gives the all-clear. We had a stroke of luck. And we had this fire blanket.

Fire fighting

Unitec Glass fibre fire blanket 120 x 180 cm

111

One option too many

After this experience, I naturally agree with the positive reviews. The blanket is big enough and did its job. It would have been difficult with a smaller model. Even if you have a few shards of fibreglass in your hands after use - that's a thousand times better than burns or a torched flat.

It's better to have one option too many than one fire blanket too few. We now have a few black spots to remind us that a fire can indeed break out quickly. I'm thinking about another purchase. For a grease fire, which you should never fight with water, fire blankets don't perform well. A class F fire extinguisher is the better choice in this case. If things get serious again, I want to be prepared. That's why I like to hang two fire-red dust catchers in the kitchen.

Michael Restin

Senior Editor

Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.ch

Simple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.

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