Most deaths however are from smoke or poisonous gas inhalation and panic.
CO combined with other toxic gases or disease, burns, and heat each cause a third of the remainder. Panic comes from not knowing what to do. Deaths from fires are the fifth leading cause of injury death among people over 65, after falls, motor vehicle crashes, suicide, and medical-surgical procedures. Older African Americans have fire death rates five times higher than Caucasians. Surviving a fire begins when you get to your room.