When should you use a fire blanket instead of a fire extinguisher?

Using a fire blanket is most appropriate for situations involving small fires, particularly those that involve a person or cooking-related fires. Fire blankets are designed to smother flames by depriving them of oxygen, making them effective for handling minor fires, especially when the flames are on clothing or when a cooking fire becomes uncontrollable. The blanket can quickly cover the source of the fire, effectively extinguishing it without the need for a chemical agent, which is particularly beneficial when dealing with small, contained situations.

In contrast, other options suggest inappropriate scenarios for the use of fire blankets. For instance, a fire blanket is not intended for all types of fires as it is not effective in larger or more hazardous situations. It is also not ideal to limit its use solely to grease fires in frying pans; while it is effective for such fires, it has a broader application for smaller fires on people or surfaces. Additionally, when a fire is too large to control with an extinguisher, a blanket would likely not be effective; therefore, a more robust response is required in such cases.