MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Today you have less time to escape a house fire than ever before. Research shows that 30 years ago, you had 17 minutes to escape, but today, it's down to 3 to 4 minutes.

The materials that newer homes and the furniture inside them are made of actually burn a lot faster. In the 70s and 80s, furniture was made from real wood and natural materials. Now they are made from mostly synthetic fibers.

"Not only do common citizens have much less time to get out of a house in case its on fire, we as the fire service have much less time to be able to go in and effect a rescue or make a good stop on a fire because of the same reasons, the building becomes so unstable now our window of working time has become much smaller," said Tavis Millerov, Meridian Township Fire Inspector.

Furniture companies do uphold a national flammability standard, so these materials are not necessarily a hazard.

Fire experts say the best thing to so is to stick to the basics, make a fire escape plan for your home and practice it with your family.