Every year more than 2，500 people die and 12，600    1    （injure）in home fires in America. Americans experience the great fear of fire every day.    2    , most of them don't understand fire.

    3    （protect）yourself, it is important to learn the basic characteristic of fire. In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get    4    （complete）out of control and turn into a major fire. Most deadly fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire-the fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick, maybe there is just little time to escape. Heat is more    5    （threaten）than flames. In five minutes, a room can get so hot that everything in    6    starts to burn at once. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete    7    （dark）. If you wake up to a fire, you may be blinded and confused about    8    you are or which direction you should go in. You are even unable to find your way around the home you    9    （live）in for ages. Fire produces smoke and poisonous gases. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you tired, sleepy and short of breath. As    10    result, you may not wake up in time to escape.