The following is a timeline of an actual 2-story house fire. It will show you just how fast fire spreads:

• 0:30 - Fire ignites and grows rapidly.
• 1:04 - From first flame, fire spreads and smoke begins to fill room.
• 1:35 - Smoke layer descends rapidly, temperature exceeds 190°F.
• 1:50 - Smoke detector at foot of stairs alarms. Still time to get out.
• 2:30 - Temperature above couch over 400°F.
• 2:48 - Smoke pours into other rooms.
• 3:03 - Temperature three feet above floor in room of origin is over 500°F. (No one could survive.)
• 3:20 - Upstairs hall filled with smoke - Escape more difficult.
• 3:41 - Flashover - Energy in room of origin ignites everything. Temperature is 1400°F.
• 3:50 - Two minutes after smoke detectors sounds, 2nd exit is only way out.
• 4:33 - Flames just now visible from exterior of house - first evidence of fire from outside.
  At this point, rescue may not be possible.