What's in the air and how to protect yourself from smoke

WHAT IS SMOKE? People often think that heat and flames are the most dangerous part of fire. Actually, the stuff in the air can be even deadlier. Sometimes during combustion, there is not enough oxygen to burn the fuel; this is called INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION. In this kind of chemical reaction, the fire creates byproducts like smoke. Smoke not only contains toxic gases such as CARBON MONOXIDE but also SOOT--tiny solid carbon particles that can wreak havoc on our lungs. If fire breaks out in your hom