Firefighters Say This Amazon Product Is a Must-Have in Every Home

With headline-making wildfires still smoldering in Southern California, fire safety is fresh on our minds, as well as the havoc such disasters can wreak. While wildfires may not be a credible threat to much of the country, house fires can strike anywhere—and when you least expect them.  

Their causes vary: They can stem from cooking accidents, faulty appliances, electrical fires, unattended candles, smoking—but the danger is all the same. In addition to smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, one weapon firefighters recommend—but few of us have at home—is an emergency fire-suppression blanket.

Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket, Pack of 2

The woven fiberglass fibers of this unsung hero can suffocate fires in seconds and withstand temperatures upwards of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s an effective precaution against various sorts of fires too, according to the manufacturer, including those sparked by grease, gasoline, electricity, burning wood, and chemicals.

The blanket comes in its own red pouch with a grommet to hang inside a cupboard, pantry, or closet. To deploy it, just pull down on tabs along the bottom, and the blanket will unfurl in one swoop. Tossed over a small fire, say, on a stovetop or grill, the blanket can smother flames in a matter of seconds. Wrapped around you, it can offer a layer of protection from fire if you’re ever forced to flee a burning building.

“As a firefighter, every homeowner needs one,” said one five-star reviewer.

The fire blanket measures 40 by 40 inches, with extra-large 47-by-71-inch version also available. No matter which you choose, shoppers call them a must-have. “If it hadn’t been for this blanket,” one five-star reviewer said, “I’m not sure if we’d still have a house right now.”

“A firefighter that lives nearby told us every family should have these,” another shared. “After seeing a demo, there is no better safety item for home fires. Listen to the people who know. Get these.”

Fire blankets also never expire, unlike fire extinguishers, which have a shelf life and require periodic upkeep most of us neglect. But perhaps best of all, this fire blanket is reusable time and again. Once used, your blanket will likely have a scorch mark where it snuffed out the fire. But it won’t smell, shoppers say, and you can just fold it back up and tuck it inside its pouch, ready to go if—knock on wood—it’s ever needed again.

Some shoppers report that handling the blanket, made of woven fiberglass, can cause mild skin irritation. But given the choice between itchy skin and the disastrous effects of a house fire, we’ll take a little itchiness any day.

Listen to the pros, and add one of these fire blankets to your home emergency kit. Then read on for more fire-safety tools to help keep your loved ones safe if disaster strikes.

Prepared Hero Extra-Large Emergency Fire Blanket

Parcil Safety Large Silicone-Coated Emergency Fire Blanket

Google Nest Protect Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector

LifeSafe StaySafe All-in-1 Portable Fire Extinguisher

SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe

Kidde 2-Story Fire Escape Rope Ladder