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Alsip works to educate the public on today’s fires
ABC7 has published an important article to raise public awareness about the rapid spread and extreme heat of house fires:
You now have only about three minutes after a fire alarm sounds to escape your home safely. That time has dropped significantly over the years — it used to be as much as 17 minutes. This change is due to the materials commonly found in modern homes.
The Alsip Fire Department created two room mockups to demonstrate this difference. One was filled with older, antique furniture made from natural materials like cotton, wool, and down. The other was a typical modern room with synthetic furnishings made from polyurethane and hydrocarbons.
Firefighters lit both rooms at the same time using a candle. In just one minute and thirty seconds, the newer furnishings reached "flashover," meaning the entire room was engulfed in flames. The older furniture burned much more slowly — it took over 13 minutes to reach flashover.
"The products today are mostly synthetic," said Thomas Styczynski, Fire Chief of the Village of Alsip. "They're hydrocarbons — basically solid gasoline. They ignite faster and release toxic gases, including cyanide, which can be deadly."
It's not just furniture that contributes to faster fires. Research from Underwriter Laboratories in Northbrook shows that modern construction materials also increase risk. "Lightweight construction uses laminated beams and trusses, which are great under normal conditions," said Ron Hazelton. "But in a fire, they collapse much sooner than traditional wood."
"Solid wood burns from the outside in, so even if it chars, the inside remains structurally sound for longer," Hazelton explained. "These materials burn hotter and faster, and when they fail, they do so almost instantly."
Of course, most people won't replace all their furniture with vintage pieces. But some homeowners are paying 2% extra on new construction to install sprinkler systems. Retrofitting existing homes is more costly, but you may qualify for an insurance discount. If you're looking to avoid the cost, regular maintenance is key — check smoke detectors every six months, keep rooms organized, and limit the number of items, especially in small spaces.
Firefighters also recommend keeping doors closed as often as possible. This helps slow the spread of fire between rooms.
In Illinois, more than 90 communities require sprinklers in new single-family homes and townhouses. While this isn’t always an option, staying alert and prepared is essential. Make sure smoke detectors are working, check wiring, furnaces, and appliances regularly, and stay informed about fire safety.
Thanks, Dan.