FAST! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. In minutes, a house can be engulfed in flames. Most fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, escape first, and then call for help.
HOT! A fire's heat alone can kill. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. So keep low. Inhaling this super hot air will scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin. In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once. This is called flashover.
DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. Plan your escape routes ahead of time.
DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. Having a smoke alarm increases your chances
of survival.
-- U.S. Fire Administration