@Peternimmo Literally EVERYTHING in your home or car that burns is highly toxic. Couches, carpets, most clothing, everything plastic, treated wood -- EVERYTHING.
Common practice now after a fire is to DECON SHOWER and have all gear professionally cleaned. We NEVER take fire gear or boots into the living area of a station any more.
A whole generation of firefighters died or is dying of cancer from before we got serious about bottled air and decon.
@FirefighterGeek I'm glad to have that confirmed by an actual firefighter! I had been told that before. It's a constant surprise to me how many people seem to lack an awareness of dangerous fires actually are. Lives are far more important than property
...and you'd have been 100% doing the right thing. Unless a life is in immediate danger, the smart thing for anyone who isn't a trained firefighter to do, is get out. Stuff can be replaced. They make more stuff all day long.
Also, vehicle fires are really hard to put out with an extinguisher once they're going. Impossible if its a lithium battery or petroleum fire.
* Speaking as some who has done this several times *