Residential fires today are more dangerous and pose more risk than in years past, that's according to the Underwriters Laboratories.
The UL has done studies in the past several years to determine the speed in which fire accelerates in modern homes compared to legacy homes built in the 1950's to 70's. The results show homes today are eight times faster to reach the flashover point than the older homes. One reason is materials used to build and furnish homes have become synthetic which burn at a faster rate.
Veteran firefighters at the Lima Fire Department say they have seen these changes over the years and have experienced first hand that escape times for occupants in a burning home is now only minutes. With more synthetic materials burning in the homes, Lima Fire Chief, Mark Heffner says firefighting is evolving to handle the extreme conditions.
Heffner says they also have taken more precaution with the department's gear after fires to remove the chemical residue.
