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Things to do in a fire

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ZoeB:
Presence of mind is good. Absence of body is better.

Even if you know what you are doing, even if the fire is relatively small, even if lives may be at stake - accept the consequences of running, or accept the consequences of fighting.

Too late, time's up. If you have to pause to think, run, as it's already out of control.

If you haven't had any training, then for all but the smallest fire imaginable, leave.

Turn off mains power. If oil or electricity MAY be involved, if there's any doubt, DO NOT USE WATER on the base of the fire.

OK, I'm assuming you've had some training; the fire is small but growing rapidly. Remember, not just seconds count, tenths of seconds count.

Keep low, underneath the smoke and superheated air. If ceiling on fire, really, really consider abandoning no matter how small the base is. Remember, temperature may be 30C and liveable at 1 metre - waist height - but 500C and immediately chemically toxic at 1.5M - head height.

If items in the room at head height are flashing into flame from radiant heat, that pain in your face is not the usual kind you get from being a bit close to a campfire for a few seconds. You are burning.

I'm assuming you've already left the room, grabbed any clothing, blankets etc, soaked them.  Breathe deeply, hold breath, duck, throw wet towels on area nearest entrance to room. Exit, repeat, this time throwing on base of fire. Exit, repeat, this time next to base as fire will have spread there by now. Exit, repeat on spot fires. Exit, repeat, back to base again which will now be at original strength. Exit, repeat, putting out floor then  ceiling fires. Exit, repeat till it's either obvious you're not winning, or fire is out, or fire brigade is there - in any of the three cases, leave.

If you're lucky, you save the structure and anyone in it. If very lucky, you're completely unhurt. If unlucky - you're also unhurt, as you realised you couldn't handle it, and left before you could get hurt.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/woman-burnt-in-downer-house-fire-20140602-zruw2.html


--- Quote ---A 56-year-old woman has suffered serious burns following a kitchen fire on Burn Street in Downer.
...
Intensive care paramedics and ACT Fire and Rescue officers were called to the property around 11.30am and extinguished the fire on arrival.

The woman was treated by intensive care paramedics at the scene of the fire and then transported to the Canberra Hospital.

The ESA spokeswoman said she was in a stable condition.
...
Two pumpers, a breathing apparatus van, a hazardous materials unit and a commander were called to the property.

Ventilation operations are now being conducted at the property.

Damage to the kitchen is estimated at $40,000.

--- End quote ---

Burns hurt. A lot. Avoid if possible.



8 hrs after fire. Areas of skin hanging down revealing pink dermis underneath so soon indicate deep partial thickness burns.


18 hrs after - oedema and swelling, areas not so deeply burnt now blistering, crusts of plasma forming.



This is an example of a very, very rapid fire, one moving at about double the rate of the kitchen fire above. The woman arrived in the kitchen at the equivalent of the 7 second mark, and had wet blanket on base at about 13 second mark, the peak of the fire. After holding it at bay for 20 secs, managed to slowly quell it. If it gets to the 16 second mark, flee. Flashover will happen in 20-40 seconds. She saved the resident cats, and the house, and had no life-threatening injuries - but was by no means unscathed.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_eHBqVYa8A

Masterpiece:
oh no :(

Is it cold in here?:
Little known tactic: close doors on your way out. You may save some property. Sleeping with the bedroom door closed may buy you some time.

There's a video from decades ago, I found it on Youtube and then lost it again, where an insurance company lab filmed the result of a cigarette in an armchair. It's a lesson in exponential growth. Then it goes beyond exponential when the ceiling temperature hits the ignition temperature of building materials. If you remember only one thing, it's Keep Low. One breath of the toxic shit in the air and you may never make it out.

My neighbors grabbed the baby and ran when the smoke detector went off. They got outside a few seconds before the house flashed. There's a table somewhere of escape time margins in various scenarios. They are measured in seconds or small numbers of minutes. If you have ionization smoke detectors some of the margins are negative. Buy photoelectric.

Could you hear the smoke detector in the basement from your upstairs bedroom? Current US code requires them to be interconnected so that all of them repeat an alarm if one goes off. There are lots of older buildings where they're not. There are a couple of wireless solutions if you can't afford to re-wire the house. Smoke detectors giving you nuisance alarms? Next time don't buy the cheapest model at the discount store.

Agree ahead of time where all your fellow occupants will meet after evacuating. Otherwise someone will die going back into the fire to rescue someone who's already safe outside.

Prevention is good. Electricians are delighted to drive out and charge you for inspecting things. They have tools and know-how that few nerd homeowners have. I hired one for the purpose and discovered what it means to have a Zinsco breaker panel.

Vehicle fires: the rule of thumb among firefighters is that if there are visible flames coming out of the car then it is already a total loss economically and the only reason to fight the fire is to protect life or nearby cars.

Barmymoo:
Zoe, I'm sorry if this a really stupid question but is that you?! Even if not, fuck. Fires are terrifying. I have had fire training multiple times - how to put fires out, when not to try, training in theatres, training for work, training at the fire station - and I am still certain that if there was a fire, I would be out of the door instantly and not even trying to tackle the fire. It is simply too dangerous.

My old flat didn't have a smoke detector in it. There was one out in the hall wired into the commercial fire alarm system, but not one in my flat. I am very glad the new place does.

GarandMarine:
Concur with May's question...

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