Fire fatalities are often smoke fatalities. In fact, the most frequent cause of death or injury in a fire is smoke inhalation. According the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), smoke is the killer in 60% to 80% of all fire deaths. Irritating, toxic and asphyxiant gases can lead to unconsciousness in few minutes and eventually to death.
There’s no fire in buildings without smoke: a rooms can quickly fill with smoke and gases in the event of a fire. Only 300 gr of paper (the weight of a single book!) can produce more than 300 m³ of smoke and gases when burned (the volume of a 10x10x3 meters office). Even a burning wastepaper basket can quickly fill a room with smoke.
The development of smoke and gases in a room or even in a large space is dramatic: the first effect is reducing visibility, normally in two, three minutes. The consequence is that people cannot find the escape route and panic often start. The second effect is related to toxicity of specific component, such as carbon monoxide (CO). Inhaling carbon monoxide leads to nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and ultimately death. Depending on the materials present in a building, some other dangerous gases can be released such as hydrogen cyanide, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, etc.
Smoke is also the biggest enemy of fire brigade.