How A House Fire Spreads

11/8/2021 (Permalink)

It only takes 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a full-blown life-threatening fire. According to Glenn Gaines, the Deputy US Fire Administrator, fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters in the United States combined. And even if individuals are spared, fire can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage - up to $50,000 to rebuild a kitchen engulfed in flames.

What's most alarming is that home fires have become more dangerous and devastating recently because of the flammability of the materials in the house. Thirty years ago, you had an average of about 14 to 17 minutes to escape a house fire. Now, occupants have roughly 2 to 3 minutes to get out. Fire testing conducted by UL has found a home with mostly synthetic-based furnishings can be entirely engulfed in less than 4 minutes.