Sleeping with your bedroom door closed could save your life in a fire

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- You know how important it is to have a properly-functioning smoke alarm in your home, and local fire agencies want to make sure you also understand the life-saving benefits of sleeping with your bedroom door closed.

"Closing that door creates a survivable area within your bedroom," said Cpt. Brian Ellis with the Kennewick Fire Department. "They've had fires raging in the hallway they walk through the door that was closed and it's perfectly survivable behind there."

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, about a quarter of all house fires start between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., when most people are sleeping.

House fires can burn fast and put out a lot of toxic smoke. Keeping your door closed can preserve breathable oxygen in your bedroom, giving you more time to respond to a smoke alarm.