How to Increase Your Chances of Surviving a House Fire
Half of home fires happen between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am, a time when most of us are unaware that something is happening. It’s terrible, but there is one simple thing you can do to survive: close your bedroom door before bed.
This message comes from the UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) , which has found over more than a decade of research that a simple act can have a “potentially life-saving effect.” The more oxygen in a fire, the faster it spreads, so a closed door can provide protection. (Also, if you ever have to get out of the fire, close the door behind you to slow it down.) There can be a 900 degree difference between a room with an open door and a room with a closed door. See how the fire affects these two adjacent bedrooms, next to the burning living room.
House fires are more dangerous these days than ever because the synthetic materials we use allow the fire to spread faster than it has in previous generations. (Thirty years ago, you had about 17 minutes to escape. Now you only have three minutes.)
Aside from having everyone in your family close doors before bed, make sure you have a smoke alarm, review your escape plan, and check for common home fire hazards. These simple steps can be critical.