House Fires: The Fatal Danger Beyond the Flames

There are more than 1 million house fires in the United States each year and more than 3,000 people will die each year as a result of fires. But the cause of death in a fire usually is not from severe burns. More often than not, deaths in house fires are a result of smoke inhalation (smoke poisoning).

“While the danger of being burned by a fire is evident, many people are unaware of the dangers of smoke inhalation,” says emergency department physician Baruch Fertel, MD.

Often, the smoke in a house fire overcomes people so quickly that they can’t make it to an otherwise accessible exit, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says.

When people think of death by fire, they typically imagine fire breaking out in a place that is crowded with strangers, like a movie theater or restaurant. In reality, the people who die in fires typically in their own homes and vehicles, the NFPA says.

Although homes fires and deaths have declined since 1977, four out of five fire-related deaths among non-firefighters occur in the home.

The dangers of smoke inhalation

“When you inhale smoke from a fire, you’re really inhaling a combination of a bunch of toxic products,” Dr. Fertel says. “The ‘smoke’ is mostly carbon monoxide, but also contains cyanide. Many homes contain a lot of synthetic materials such as rubber, plastic or foam. When those materials burn, they can cause house fire cyanide poisoning.”

Cyanide is a poisonous chemical gas that prevents your body from absorbing and using oxygen.

Inhaling burnt plastic and the toxic combustion of materials in the home also impairs respiration and can cause suffocation, Dr. Fertel adds. Oxygen deprivation, even for short periods, can cause irreversible harm.

People who have sustained carbon monoxide poisoning have a risk for more health risks after a house fire, like cognitive delays or other neurological issues, he adds.

The most common cause of house fires

While many factors can be responsible for a house fire, one of the most common causes during cold weather months is a space heater.

If you must use a space heater, Dr. Fertel recommends getting a new one that is equipped with safety features and always make sure it’s operated in an area with ventilation.

“If it’s something that burns, such as a combustion heater, it’s really important to make sure that the area is vented,” Dr. Fertel says. “One good safety feature is a tip-over feature that makes sure that the device shuts off if it tips over.”

Electrical fires, cooking fires and candles are also common causes of house fires.

How to prevent house fires

“It is never safe to enter a burning home, whether it be a small house fire or a home engulfed in flames, even if you think you are away from flames,” Dr. Fertel says.

“It only takes a short period to be overcome by smoke inhalation,” he warns.

If you notice flames or fire in or around your home, call 911 immediately. Let the professionals do their job.

To prevent house fires in the future:

• Regularly test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Keep all heating sources (ovens, stovetops, dryers, space heaters, etc.) clean and make sure all electrical wiring doesn’t pose a hazard.
• Use caution with candles or scented wax plugins.
• Throw your fireplace/grill ashes away in a proper receptacle once they’ve cooled completely.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.