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How to use a fire blanket, and when fire services say get out instead

In short: Most fire services now say don't tackle a pan fire: turn off the heat if it's safe, leave, close the door and call for help. For a small, new pan fire you can smother it with a lid or a fire blanket held as a shield, then leave it covered until it is cold.

Co-authored by Sonia Abu Bakar✓, MSc Botany

By 8 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq

Last updated: 29 October 2026References

Set preferred
Illustration of a woman standing back from a hob, holding an open fire blanket up in front of her like a shield towards a small flame in a panIllustration

At a glance

Never
Water on an oil fire, or moving the pan (London Fire Brigade, NFPA)
UK and Pakistan
Don't tackle it: get out and call (London Fire Brigade, Sindh Rescue 1122)
Germany
Lid or Class F extinguisher; blankets can burn through (fire brigades, DGUV)
US
Lid; no fire blankets listed to US standards (NFPA)
Advice from
Fire services and NFPA, DGUV, NHS and FireAngel, read 29 October 2026
Checked
October 2026

Fire blankets are sold for kitchen fires, but fire services don't agree on them. Some UK advice says to use one on a small pan fire, German fire brigades say they can burn through, and NFPA in the US doesn't recommend buying one at all. This guide shows what each says, how to use a blanket if you choose to, and what to do instead.

What's on fire?

A pan, and the fire is small and just started

Heat off, then smother it, or get out. Start at The first seconds.

It's spreading, or you're not sure

Get out now. Go to Leave and call.

Someone's clothes

Stop, drop and roll. Go to If clothes catch fire.

The first seconds: what never to do, and whether to tackle it

  1. Never pour water on a burning pan.

    Illustration of a woman at the hob holding up her hand in a stop gesture, with a glass of water left at the far end of the counter
    Illustration

    Water on burning oil can cause a fireball (London Fire Brigade). The water turns to steam in an instant: one litre of water becomes about 1,700 litres of steam, which throws burning fat out of the pan (Freiwillige Feuerwehr Lehrte).

    If you use a damp tea towel, as older UK advice suggested, wring it out well first (MOD, 2010). NFPA: never pour water on a grease fire.

  2. Don't move the pan.

    Illustration of two hands held back, away from the handle of a pan with a small flame on the hob
    Illustration

    London Fire Brigade and NFPA both say not to move a burning pan. Carrying it to the sink or outside can spill burning oil onto you and the floor.

  3. Turn off the heat, if you can reach it safely.

    Illustration of a hand reaching in from the side to turn a hob knob to off, keeping well away from the pan
    Illustration

    Turning off the heat stops the fire from growing, but only do it if it's safe (London Fire Brigade). For gas or electric hobs, switch off the energy supply to the cooker (Altusried fire brigade).

    You should see: the knob or control at off, and no more heat going into the pan.

  4. Only tackle it if it's small, just started, and you're sure you can stay safe.

    Illustration of a woman standing at a calm distance from the hob, looking at a small flame in a pan, with the open kitchen door behind her
    Illustration

    Older UK guidance said to try only if the fire is in its early stages and you are completely sure you can put it out and stay safe (MOD, 2010). London Fire Brigade's current advice is not to tackle it at all.

    If the flames are higher than the pan, are spreading, or you hesitate, go to the next step.

  5. Leave the room, close the door, warn others and call for help.

    Illustration of a woman closing the kitchen door behind her as she walks out, holding a phone
    Illustration

    Close the kitchen door behind you and warn everyone at home (London Fire Brigade). Call 999 in the UK, 112 in Germany and the EU, 911 in the US, or 1122 in Pakistan.

    You should see: everyone out of the home, the kitchen door shut behind you.

Smother a small pan fire

  1. If you have a lid, slide it over the pan.

    Illustration of a hand sliding a metal lid across the top of a pan from the side, covering a small flame
    Illustration

    NFPA says to keep a lid nearby when you cook and to smother a small grease fire by sliding the lid over the pan, then turning off the burner. German fire brigades also say a lid (Altusried fire brigade).

    Leave the lid on until the pan has cooled, so the fire can't restart (NFPA).

  2. Careful: fire services don't agree on blankets for pan fires. In Germany, fire brigades and DGUV say they're not suitable because flames can come through the fabric.

    No lid? Pull both tapes down and out to release the blanket.

    Illustration of two hands pulling the two tapes of a wall-mounted fire blanket case downwards and outwards, the blanket sliding out
    Illustration

    Grip one tape in each hand and pull downwards and out (FireAngel).

  3. Hold it up in front of you like a shield.

    Illustration of a woman holding an open fire blanket up by its top corners in front of her body
    Illustration

    Hold the blanket in a shield position (FireAngel), so it is between the fire and your hands, face and body.

  4. Lay it gently over the pan, then turn off the heat.

    Illustration of a fire blanket laid flat over a pan on the hob, covering it completely, while a hand turns the hob knob off
    Illustration

    Place it gently over the fire rather than throwing it (FireAngel). Then switch off the heat, if you haven't already (FireAngel, MOD).

    You should see: the whole pan covered and no flames coming from under the edges.

  5. Leave it covered until everything is cold, and call the fire service.

    Illustration of a covered pan on a hob with a wall clock nearby, and a woman in the kitchen doorway making a phone call
    Illustration

    Leave the blanket in place until the pan has cooled completely (FireAngel, MOD). Don't lift a corner to check: the fire can restart (NFPA, for lids). The older UK leaflet also says to call the fire brigade (MOD).

    Then replace it: EN 1869 covers fire blankets that are not reusable (BSI).

If clothes catch fire

  1. Stop, drop and roll.

    Illustration in three small panels of a person stopping, lying down on the floor with hands over their face, and rolling
    Illustration

    Stop where you are, because running makes the flames spread faster. Drop to the ground to limit how far the flames can reach, and roll to put them out (London Fire Brigade). Cover your face with your hands as you roll (NFPA).

  2. Smother the flames with a fire blanket or heavy fabric.

    Illustration of a man kneeling to wrap a fire blanket around a woman lying on the floor
    Illustration

    London Fire Brigade says covering yourself with a heavy fabric or a fire blanket helps smother the flames. NFPA says to use a blanket or towel if you can't stop, drop and roll.

    DGUV, the German accident insurers' body, has doubts about blankets on people for workplace use, because a burning person often runs or resists. Once the flames are out, take off loose clothing, belts and jewellery (NFPA), but leave anything stuck to the skin (NHS).

  3. Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.

    Illustration of a forearm held under a running cold tap, with a small wall clock in the background
    Illustration

    The NHS says to cool a burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, then cover it loosely with cling film. Don't use creams, oils or butter.

    Call 999 or go to A&E for large or deep burns, or burns on the face (NHS). In other countries, call 112, 911 or 1122.

Choose and place a blanket

  1. If you buy one, check it's tested to EN 1869:2019.

    Illustration of a hand holding a new fire blanket in its plain case next to an open pan lid
    Illustration

    BS EN 1869:2019 is the current standard, for single-use blankets meant to be used by one person (BSI). Its fire test only covers fryers with up to 3 litres of oil (DGUV).

    In the US, NFPA says no fire blankets on the market are listed to existing safety standards and doesn't recommend buying them. A lid is the safer kit there.

  2. Hang it where you can reach it without leaning over the hob.

    Illustration of a kitchen with a fire blanket case on the wall next to the door, and the cooker on the far side of the room
    Illustration

    Our suggestion: near the kitchen door, so you can grab it on your way and still have the exit behind you. Not above the cooker, and not inside a cupboard. Make sure everyone at home knows where it is and how the tapes work.

What fire services say in the UK, Germany, the US and Pakistan

UKGermanyUSPakistan
Pan on fireDon't tackle it; heat off if safe, leave, close the door, call 999 (London Fire Brigade)Lid or a Class F extinguisher; switch off gas or electricity (Altusried fire brigade)Slide a lid on, burner off, leave it until cool (NFPA)Don't remove it or try to put it out: get out (Sindh Rescue 1122)
Fire blanketsSold to EN 1869:2019 (BSI); London Fire Brigade mentions them for clothes on fireNot suitable for fat fires: they can burn through (Altusried fire brigade, DGUV)None listed to US safety standards (NFPA)No official advice found
ExtinguisherClass F is the class for cooking fat (Altusried fire brigade)Class K, for trained adults (NFPA)Not covered in Sindh Rescue 1122's advice
Emergency9991129111122

How to tell it's over

  • The heat is off and the pan is still covered.
  • The pan and blanket are cold to the touch before anyone moves them (FireAngel, MOD).
  • You called the fire service, or everyone is out and help is on the way.
  • Any burn has been cooled for 20 minutes (NHS).
  • You have replaced the blanket, or bought a lid that fits.

If it doesn't go to plan

What happensWhat it meansWhat to do
The tapes don't release the blanketYou're losing timeStop trying. Use a lid, or leave and close the door
Flames come round the edges of the blanket or lidThe cover is too small or the fire too bigLeave the room, close the door, call for help
The fire spreads beyond the panIt's no longer a small fireGet out, close the door, call 999, 112, 911 or 1122 (London Fire Brigade)
The oil smokes before it catchesIt's too hot (London Fire Brigade)Turn off the heat and let it cool
The fire is inside the ovenThe closed door is holding it inHeat off, door closed until it's cool (NFPA)

Keep a torch and a first aid kit in your home emergency kit.

Questions readers ask

Can I use a damp tea towel instead?

An older UK government leaflet (MOD Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation, 2010) suggested a wrung-out damp tea towel if you have no blanket. London Fire Brigade's current pan fire advice doesn't mention tea towels and says not to tackle the fire yourself. A lid is the option NFPA and German fire brigades name.

Does a fire blanket work on a deep fat fryer?

Only on small ones, if at all. The EN 1869 fire test only covers fryers with up to 3 litres of oil, and DGUV says blankets aren't suitable for fat fires in workplaces because flames came through the fabric in tests. A German fire brigade (Altusried) says blankets can burn through.

Should I use a fire extinguisher on a pan fire?

Only the right type. NFPA says only Class K extinguishers are designed for grease fires, and they should be used by trained adults. In Germany the matching class is F, for fat fires (Altusried fire brigade). Never use water.

Are fire blankets sold in the US safe to rely on?

NFPA says no fire blankets on the US market have been listed to existing safety standards, and it does not recommend buying products that are not listed. It recommends keeping a lid nearby instead.

What if the fire is inside the oven?

NFPA says to turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed until it is cool, and to open it only once you're sure the fire is completely out.

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