Think you know everything there is to know about fire? Think again. The following facts about fire safety contradict what most people believe about it—and you may be surprised by what you read.

The most common cause of fire deaths is cooking fires. The kitchen is the most hazardous room in the house when it comes to risk of fire. This is usually a result of leaving food cooking on a stove unattended, leaving flammable materials too near an open stove, or other human errors—generally not electrical failure of kitchen appliances, although this provides a risk of fire as well.

Fire is faster than you think. It takes less than thirty seconds for a fire to become very difficult to control—and most of the time, the fire brigade gets there too late to put the fire out quickly. Many home fires occur when the people inside are asleep—and once you wake up, you may have only seconds to escape.

Flames aren’t the leading cause of fire deaths. If you get caught in a fire, you may be dead before the fire ever reaches you. It takes only minutes for thick black smoke to fill a home during a fire, and smoke inhalation is a leading cause of death in case of fires. The smoke is toxic and may make you sleepy or disoriented. Some people are poisoned by smoke inhalation in their sleep before they have a chance to escape.

Another common killer during fires is heat. The heat from a fire alone is enough to kill; it can get as hot as 315 degrees Celsius at eye level—hot enough to scorch your lungs if you breathe it in and to melt the clothes you’re wearing into your skin.

If you’re in a burning house, you might not be able to see. Most of us think a burning building would be very bright inside. Actually, it can be pitch black because of the dark smoke produced by fire. It’s possible that if you were caught inside a burning house, you might not be able to find the exit—even if you’ve lived there for years. Smoke can be extremely disorienting. This is why it’s so important to memorize your escape plan and practice it blindfolded.

It’s not enough to install fire alarms. Fire alarms are promoted heavily by most fire brigades—because they’re better than no protection at all, they’re cheap and easy to install, and they do save lives. But one fire safety fact most people don’t realize is that fire alarms don’t provide you all the protection you might need in case of a fire. They will alert you to a fire, but you’ll still have only seconds to escape from the building alone. They do nothing to control the fire, and it’s extremely common for fire alarms to malfunction or run out of batteries when they’re needed most. Only fire sprinkler systems can provide full protection.

Fire is unpredictable and much faster and more dangerous than most people realize. It’s crucial to be aware of good fire safety habits and to make sure your fire safety equipment—fire alarms and extinguishers—are in good working order. In addition, a strong escape plan could save your life—if you practice and memorize it. With these tips, hopefully you’ll be able to keep your family safe in case of fire.