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Morbid Question. Sorry: In a fire, do most die of smoke or from the fire itself?
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:25 pm
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:25 pm
This is a morbid question, I know, so forgive me - I am not at all making light of this or trying to be trivial. But, reading about the Gatlinburg fire and then the one in California where so many died, does anyone know what happens most often? I hear people talk about smoke inhalation and then they are burned to death. That makes sense. Is the oxygen all taken up by the fire? It seems that if it were just the fire, I would just keep running if I could. But, I imagine it is not anywhere near that simple.
I just can't imagine what these people went through in Gatlinburg. I hope the smoke got them first so they would pass out. That mother with her two girls. Dear God.
I just can't imagine what these people went through in Gatlinburg. I hope the smoke got them first so they would pass out. That mother with her two girls. Dear God.
24
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:26 pm to AlaTiger
In a situation like that, God or Jesus would appear and take you before you felt any pain.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:27 pm to AlaTiger
Suffocation I would believe
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:32 pm to AlaTiger
Most die from smoke. Not that it matters, but i'm a fireman.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:32 pm to AlaTiger
Smoke inhalation
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:32 pm to AlaTiger
quote:
Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death for victims of indoor fires. ... The hot smoke injures or kills by a combination of thermal damage, poisoning and pulmonary irritation and swelling, caused by carbon monoxide, cyanide and other combustion products.
I am not sure how this applies to TN & those that were not found in homes
It doesn't sound like a peaceful death either way
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:32 pm to AlaTiger
Fire. Burns your skin to the bones. Then burns your bones to ashes.
Deal with it
Deal with it
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:34 pm to AlaTiger
almost all die of smoke inhalation...human body is something like 80% water, so dyeing from actual fire would be unlikely, IMO.
I deal with this kind of thing periodically and the thing that is strange to me is how frequently people don't wake up when their house is burning. apparently, smoke inhalation puts people out pretty quickly.
moral of that story is...be sure your damn smoke detectors are working...
I deal with this kind of thing periodically and the thing that is strange to me is how frequently people don't wake up when their house is burning. apparently, smoke inhalation puts people out pretty quickly.
moral of that story is...be sure your damn smoke detectors are working...
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:35 pm to windshieldman
quote:
Most die from smoke. Not that it matters, but i'm a fireman.
Thank you for your service.
It is such a horrible thing and with the people dying in Gatlinburg it is on everyone's mind. So, I almost hesitated to ask here, but thought I'd get someone who actually knew. Thank you.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:37 pm to AlaTiger
Depends on whether or not you're a witch.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:38 pm to Yellerhammer5
Do witches float?
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:39 pm to AlaTiger
For, the smoke for multiple reasons, CO as well as other noxious poisons, and depletion of Oxygen
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:43 pm to AlaTiger
quote:
t is such a horrible thing and with the people dying in Gatlinburg it is on everyone's mind. So, I almost hesitated to ask here, but thought I'd get someone who actually knew. Thank you.
It really is, I don't know the details on Gatlinburg deaths, if they were in homes that caught fire or got trapped outside trying to escape. It sounds easy to escape from a fire outside but many wildland firefighters have been killed. I've never had to fool with wildland fires like that, my biggest are just typical woods fire that might cover a couple acres. Wind shifts big fires like that quickly and the smoke can ovecome someone outside quickly with that much fire like in Gatlinburg.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:45 pm to AlaTiger
Smoke.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:48 pm to windshieldman
quote:
Wind shifts big fires like that quickly and the smoke can ovecome someone outside quickly with that much fire like in Gatlinburg.
So, even in an outside wildfire type situation, the smoke is getting them before the fire does, I guess - in most situations.
I really do hope so. And, I imagine they cannot see from the smoke too.
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:49 pm to AlaTiger
Smoke inhalation makes someone sleep deeper, before it kills them, if they're sleeping so that if the fire does kill them they don't feel it until it's too late if at all. Holy run on sentence.
Generally, smoke inhalation kills them before the fire gets to them though... depending on the structure.
Generally, smoke inhalation kills them before the fire gets to them though... depending on the structure.
This post was edited on 12/3/16 at 5:52 pm
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:52 pm to dmjones
Fumes. Most dead before the flames get to them
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:53 pm to AlaTiger
quote:
o, even in an outside wildfire type situation, the smoke is getting them before the fire does, I guess - in most situations.
For the most part yea, people can manage to avoid the flames, smoke overcomes an area for a long ways in situations like that. You get close enough and smoke takes away your ability to see and then it's too late. Obviously there are other factors and I haven't read in to the deaths of these in Gatlinburg
ETA: when I say can't see, remember actual smoke burns your eyes. You stay in it long enough, even outside you lose ability to see and escape
This post was edited on 12/3/16 at 5:57 pm
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:54 pm to AlaTiger
It's not that the oxygen is all taken in the fire.
In fact, you don't need that much oxygen to function.
Your primary urgency to breathe isn't to get more oxygen, it's to exhale CO2.
If the fire is bad enough to make a low oxygen environment, you'll suffer more from the carbon monoxide formed due to incomplete combustion than actual lack of oxygen.
Smoke inhalation death is because either the hot fumes causes thermal damage, or the smoke contains toxic/poisonous compounds that incapacitate you. Or just plain soot compounds that line and irritate the mucosal linings of your nose, throat, and lungs.
In fact, you don't need that much oxygen to function.
Your primary urgency to breathe isn't to get more oxygen, it's to exhale CO2.
If the fire is bad enough to make a low oxygen environment, you'll suffer more from the carbon monoxide formed due to incomplete combustion than actual lack of oxygen.
Smoke inhalation death is because either the hot fumes causes thermal damage, or the smoke contains toxic/poisonous compounds that incapacitate you. Or just plain soot compounds that line and irritate the mucosal linings of your nose, throat, and lungs.
This post was edited on 12/3/16 at 5:58 pm
Posted on 12/3/16 at 5:57 pm to windshieldman
Don't google 911 jumpers from flames
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