Ravages of an Unattended Fire

[AmericanSteel]

Should there be a possibility that an unattended fire, indoors, could spark a blaze?

I don't think this is an issue with a stove. However, homes with an open fireplace can toss our sparks or embers as the wood burns/shifts. If a player left a fireplace burning and went to bed, they might wake up to a house fire OR never wake up at all. If a player left the fireplace burning and went out, they could come back to a home smoking or fully consumed (would be a great way to warm up... lol).

There is also the very real downside that a fire such as this could be devastating. I know if my home based burned up right now I would be in a real mess. I have a pair of backup sites, but they are not nearly well stocked with food or additional provisions.

Thoughts?

[BigJayA]

If there were a way to fight the fire I could be persuaded to back this idea.

[AmericanSteel]

If there were a way to fight the fire I could be persuaded to back this idea.

If the fire was just embers, then we could stomp it out or douse it with water. Maybe with a slight lose in durability of foot wear if we decided to stomp it out. If it was a bit larger either beating the flames down (with a jacket, blanket, etc) or dousing water on it could work. One the fire got past a certain point, there is no way a one person bucket brigade is going to put it out. It then becomes a matter of salvaging what you can before the fire consumes the structure.

While fighting a fire a player could also suffer minor to life threatening injuries with smoke inhalation and various degree of burns being the biggies. I could just see the status "On Fire!" pop up and the player has to put it out. Once a fire is involved and the structure compromised you also have to worry about falling debris. One thing is for certain, you will not have to worry about being cold!

We see a few structures that were burned down, so it only makes sense for the mechanic to be in place. If a player does something foolish with fire then there should be consequences. However, the threat of fire could be mitigated with a good screen but even that is not fool proof.

[Tejas_Stalker]

Enabling this possibility, I fear we would never see then actual destruction or aftermath but get the frequent message of our demise as easily as our failure to start a fire.

[talia343]

Having grown up around a fireplace, I've always half wondered when going to sleep with the fire raging beside me unattended in the fireplace in this game why I HAVEN'T "woken" up to the message you have died by fire.