A fire-fighting appliance is constructed of a sheetlike material modularly designed to include an outer fire-retardant, heat-reflecting, and waterproof component, and an inner fire-retardant, insulating component. The outer component is formed of either covered on the outside with a layer or heat reflecting flexible metal or flexible metal alloy attached thereto, or a composite layer including either (1) a layer of woven oxidized fiber and a heat-reflecting, waterproof layer of flexible metal or flexible metal alloy affixed to the outer surface thereof, or (2) a layer of woven oxidized fiber and a layer of waterproof plastic affixed to or adjoining the inner surface thereof, or (3) a layer of woven oxidized fiber and a heat-reflecting, waterproof layer of flexible metal or metal alloy affixed to the outer surface thereof and a layer of waterproof plastic affixed to or adjoining the inner surface thereof. The inner component is formed of an insulating layer of oxidized fiber, other fiber-retardant fiber or a combination of oxidized fibers and other fire-retardant fibers, and a fabric layer which serves as a lining to protect the inner surface of the insulation.