Virtually all fires start small but grow very rapidly. If a fire can be detected soon enough, and fought immediately, it will take surprisingly little water to put it out.

However, if it is allowed to grow unhindered, it will make a root untenable within 2 minutes.

Current fire safety is based on -

These are the principles that make up the Building Regulation and especially Approved Document "B", which describes fire safety.

Unfortunately neither of these documents make any provision for the "disadvantaged" who would have difficulty escaping from a fire or may not understand the danger.