How Quickly A Fire Can Spread Through Your Rose Hill/Fort Hunt Home

6/4/2021 (Permalink)

House fires are terrible tragedies and terribly dangerous. Experts say a small kitchen fire can become life threatening in anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes! After 5 minutes an entire residence is at risk of being engulfed in flames.

As fire damage restoration experts, SERVPRO of Rose Hill/Fort Hunt have seen just how devastating a fire can be. In this short article we'll explain how fires spread through a home so quickly.

IGNITION

Fires typically start in the kitchen area as either the cause of an appliance malfunction, overcooking or oil fire. The initial spark is the easiest to deal with and is the best chance a homeowner has at stopping the spread of the fire.

AFTER 30 SECONDS

After about 30 seconds, the fire starts to build and spread engulfing any near by oils and flammable residues. 

If the fire started near a highly flammable source, its at this point the fire can "explode" and become life threatening to anyone in its immediate vicinity.

Homeowners still have a chance to stop the fire in its track at this point! Covering the flame if its in a pot or pan will restrict the flow of oxygen in the fire, causing it to die down.

AFTER 1 MINUTE

At this point the flame is starting to engulf the kitchen, eating away at all flammable materials like wooden cabinets and utensils.

It is also at this point that poisonous gasses like carbon monoxide start to be released into the air, at large enough quantities that even just a few breaths will render someone unconscious.

AFTER 2 MINUTES

The flame continues to grow within the kitchen and the entire house starts becoming uninhabitable.

AFTER 3 MINUTES

The Flashover occurs! This is like a fireball explosion. All the oxygen in the room is sucked up into the fire, and the heat is intense enough to cause everything in the room to ignite into flames!

AFTER 4 MINUTES

The flame starts to spread through hallways into other rooms, the entire residence is now in imminent danger of being engulfed in flames.

AFTER 5 MINUTES

The entire house is virtually on fire.

Unfortunately fires move very quickly and after the first minute there's almost nothing any homeowner can do except evacuate and start considering what to do after the fire.

If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing fire damage restoration service, give SERVPRO of Rose Hill/Fort Hunt a call at (703) 665-7420.