ABC7 has published an informative article highlighting the dangers of house fires, focusing on how fast they can spread and how much hotter they burn today compared to the past:
Did you know that you now have only about three minutes after a fire alarm sounds to escape your home safely? That time has dropped dramatically over the years — it used to be as long as 17 minutes. This is due in part to the materials used in modern homes and furniture.
The Alsip Fire Department created two room mockups to demonstrate the difference. One was filled with older, antique furniture made from natural materials like cotton, wool, and down. The other represented a typical modern home with synthetic furnishings made from chemicals like polyurethane and hydrocarbons.
Firefighters lit both rooms at the same time using a candle. Within just one minute and thirty seconds, the newer furnishings were fully engulfed in flames — what firefighters call a "flashover." Meanwhile, the older furniture burned much more slowly, taking over 13 minutes to reach the same point.
"Today's products are mostly synthetic," says Thomas Styczynski, Fire Chief of the Village of Alsip. "They're hydrocarbons — basically a solid form of gasoline. They catch fire faster and release different, toxic gases, including cyanide, which can be deadly."
It's not just furniture that contributes to faster fires. Research conducted by Underwriter Laboratories in Northbrook has shown that modern construction materials also pose a greater risk. "Lightweight construction uses laminated beams and trusses, which are great under normal conditions," explains Ron Hazelton. "But in a fire, they collapse much sooner than traditional wood."
"Solid wood burns from the outside in, so even if the outside chars, the inside remains structurally sound for longer," Hazelton adds. "This burns hotter and faster, and when it fails, it does so almost instantly."
Of course, most people aren't going to replace all their furniture with vintage pieces. But some homeowners are paying up to 2% extra on new construction to install sprinkler systems. Retrofitting existing homes is more expensive, but it can lead to insurance discounts. If you're not ready for sprinklers, there are simpler steps you can take: check smoke detectors regularly, replace batteries every six months, keep your space organized, and limit the number of items, especially in small rooms.
Firefighters also recommend keeping doors closed as often as possible. This helps slow the spread of fire between rooms, giving you more time to escape.
More than 90 communities in Illinois now require sprinklers in new single-family homes and townhouses, though this isn’t always an option for everyone. Still, being proactive is key — make sure your smoke detectors are working, and check that your wiring, furnace, and appliances are in good condition.
Thanks, Dan
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