How do people who run back into a burning building to save a pet or child survive?

Question

Occasionally I see news stories like “man runs back into burning house and rescues beloved pet”

However, I’ve also been told that you will most likely die in seconds if you inhale the smoke. I’ve read that in a fire you have to crawl to escape. I’ve read that you have to sprint quickly through the flames if you have a chance (the exact opposite of crawling low?).

In: 223

Answer 1

Former firefighter here (well, volunteer firefighter).

Going back into a burning house is extremely dangerous. Fire spreads faster than you think, houses are filled with stuff that will burn extremely well (like sofas) and frequently release very toxic gasses when it burns (insulation and various plastics in particular tend to release very bad stuff. And you’ve probably got more plastics in your house than you think. Not to mention that pretty much everything is covered with various plastic- or oil-based paints).

In most cases where you see “man runs back into burning house and rescues X” the fire is contained to a part of the house, and by luck or precautionary measures (like closing the doors to any burning rooms as you exit) the effect outside that part of the house is minimal. It’s deceiving headlines, so when you imagine that it’s a house that’s a blazing inferno it’s really a relatively slowly burning fire that’s contained to a section of the building.

Even so it’s generally a really terrible idea.

For getting OUT of a fire. Staying low is good for your lungs. The lower you are the colder the air is (heat goes up, the roof could be on fire while the floor is still just sauna temperatures) and the less expose you get to all the nasty stuff that’s in the smoke (smoke tends to be hot, so it will stay up). Lowering exposure to radiating heat and creating an insulating layer of air around you is also a good idea (with as little skin exposed as possible). Wrapping a fireproof blanket (or natural fibers) around you is a good idea. Avoid synthetic fibers, because they tend to create horrific plastic/flesh injuries if they melt into the skin (pantyhose and stockings of synthetic fibers is the absolute worst).