Urban fires are becoming more common due to population trends and climate change. Rising temperatures and shifting seasons increase the risk of wildfires that burn faster and are harder to contain. However, density and temperature are not the only reasons urban fires are getting harder to fight. Modern homes are full of plastic, turning house fires into chemical-laced infernos that burn hotter, faster, and more toxic than their predecessors.
The smoke that pours out of a house fire is a poisonous soup because of the plastics and petrochemicals used to make almost all furniture, fabric, appliances, carpets, flooring, paint, pillows and cushions, and other decor. Even furniture claiming it is all wood likely has a protective coating made of toxic materials.
As a result, firefighters have a harder time containing urban fires, as they cannot position themselves downwind or act quickly enough to douse fires that spread faster and burn hotter. After any lifesaving work has been done, keeping firefighters in the toxic air is too great a risk.
How Home Fires Differ from Brush Fires
When trees and brush burn, they release gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, along with tiny solid particles called PM2.5. These particles can penetrate deep into a person’s lungs and circulate in their bloodstream and are linked to heart and lung problems, cognitive impairment,low birth weight, and preterm birth.
A burning house or town takes many of the chemical hazards of a burning forest and adds in a suite of new ones, such as hydrogen-cyanide gas, hydrochloric acid, dioxins, furans, aerosolized phthalates, and a range of other gaseous contaminants broadly known as volatile organic compounds. Some may be harmless. Others are associated with health problems.
As gas-detection technology improves, scientists are discovering new molecules of incomplete combustion that they never knew existed. “When you’re burning a home or an entire neighborhood, we don’t have a handle on the breadth of VOCs being emitted,” says Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, an atmospheric chemist at the University of British Columbia. Many of these can react with one another in the atmosphere, creating yet more compounds. N95 masks are good for filtering out the fine particles associated with fire smoke, but they do nothing for these gases. Only a gas mask can filter them out.
Hotter Burns
Plastic is a petroleum product, and petroleum is one of the most combustible materials around.
In 2020, the Fire Safety Research Institute set two living rooms on fire, on purpose. Both were identical in size and full of furnishings in an identical arrangement. But in one room, almost everything was synthetic and in the other, all natural material.
The synthetic room had a polyurethane foam sofa covered in polyester fabric, an engineered wood coffee table, a polyolefin carpet, polyester curtains and a polyester throw blanket. The natural material room had a wood sofa with cotton cushions, hardwood flooring, a solid-wood coffee table, cotton curtains and a cotton throw blanket.
In the natural-material room, the cotton couch lit easily, and then maintained a steady flame, releasing little smoke. After 26 minutes, the flames had spread to the other side of the couch, but the rest of the room was still intact, if smoky.
In the synthetic room, a thick dark smoke rose out of the flame on the polyester couch. At just under five minutes, a flash of orange flame consumed the whole room in a “flashover,” which makes escape impossible. In the natural-material room, flashover took longer than 30 minutes. Perhaps that difference helps explain why, although the rate of home fires in the U.S. has more than halved since 1980, more people are dying in their homes when they do catch fire.
How To Reduce Your Risk of a Home Fire
While most of Virginia isn't at great risk of brush fires, there are still some steps homeowners can take to help prevent fire damage.
Brush Fire Prevention
If you live in an area where wildfires are a risk, here are some simple steps you can take to protect your home:
Keep gutters clear of dried sticks and leaves.
Clean out debris from under a deck.
Replace attic vent screens to keep out flying embers (often the driest part of your home).
Keep 5 feet of space clear of flammable materials around your house.
Consider installing a roof sprinkler.
In-Home Fire Prevention
Make sure your smoke alarm batteries are charged or, if wired, in working order.
Have fire extinguishers and fire blankets in easy-to-reach locations.
Always stay in the kitchen while cooking, especially when using high heat.
Always use oven mitts rather than dishcloths when handling hot items.
Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes while cooking.
Keep a clear space around your stove and oven.
Keep your cooktop clean and free of grease buildup.
Regularly clean your oven and range hood to prevent grease accumulation.
Store flammable liquids properly.
Avoid overloading outlets.
Don’t place paper or other flammable objects over a lampshade.
Don’t use appliances or devices with frayed or worn cords.
Extension cords should only be used temporarily.
Never run cords under rugs or carpet.
Use bulbs with the correct wattage in light fixtures.
Always keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from flammable objects and never leave them unattended.
Inspect your space heaters annually for any damage or wear and replace them if necessary.
Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets, avoiding extension cords or power strips that can overheat.
Use models with safety features such as tip-over switches and overheat protection.
Have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually by a professional to remove creosote buildup. Creosote is the black or brown residue that builds up in chimneys and is highly flammable.
Place all combustible materials, including wood mantels and surrounds, at least 12 inches away from the top edge of the firebox or wood stove.
Practice safe burning habits by using only seasoned wood and avoiding the use of flammable liquids to start a fire.
Use a chimney cap to prevent debris and animals from entering your chimney, which can cause blockages and increase fire risks.
Check your dryer vent often for build-up.
Consider installing a smart smoke detector to alert you when you are away.
Sources: The Atlantic, This Old House, FEMA
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