SIDNEY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Sidney Fire Protection District is emphasizing the importance of understanding how swiftly fires can escalate by educating the community about the five stages of a fire.

The district’s officials took to Facebook to share insights, underscoring that every moment is crucial when a fire ignites.

“Given today’s household materials and furnishings, fires can quickly escalate from Stage 1 to Stage 3, known as ‘Flashover,’ in mere minutes,” officials explained. “Flashover marks a sudden shift from light burning of a few items or a small room section to full-room fire involvement. At this point, all combustible items in the room ignite almost simultaneously, resulting in intense flames throughout the space.”