Fire

Fire is fast. In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get out of control and turn into a major fire. Thick black smoke can fill a house in minutes and quickly have a house engulfed in flames. Most home fires happen when people are asleep. When you wake up to a fire there is no time to grab valuables. There is only time to escape. Room temperatures in a fire can rise to 600 degrees at face level and inhaling this extremely hot air can scorch your lungs. It can melt your clothes. So, remember that the heat from the fire alone can kill. Fire starts out to be bright but it quickly produces a thick black smoke which causes complete darkness. Fire uses up oxygen that we need to breathe and produces toxic gases that can make you sleepy, disoriented and short of breath. Sometimes these colorless fumes can put you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door, so you may not wake up in time to get out. Preparedness and prevention are definitely the keys.

• Fire and Wildfire preparedness - 8 July 2009
• First Aid Kit (Home) - 12 September 2008
• Home Preparation Checklist - 19 August 2008
• Home Preparation - 19 August 2008
• After a Fire - 18 August 2008
• During a Fire - 18 August 2008
• Fire Safety - 18 August 2008
• Fire - 18 August 2008
• Survival Kit (72 hours or 3 days) - 18 August 2008
• Fire info - 13 August 2008