According to the National Fire Protection Association’s 2019 annual report, fire departments respond to a fire somewhere in the nation every 24 seconds. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.

House fires are one of the most traumatic events that could ever happen in someone’s home. Not only do people lose precious property and treasured items, but repairs could also cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And of course, there’s the greatest fear of all: Fires can lead to injury and death.

In 2019, residential fires made up 26% of all fires in the United States. That same year, the U.S  Fire Administration reported that 3,700 people died due to fires, and 75% of those deaths happened on residential property.

Here are some other things you should know about fire:

• Fire is FAST! In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can turn into a major fire. It takes only minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for the home to be engulfed in flames.
• Fire is HOT! Heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.
• Fire is DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.
• Fire is DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a 3-to-1 ratio.