Bernoulli,
Capt Pit Bull. With your statement "Help is only seconds away" you are talking demonstrable nonsense.
Strong words. In the context of the firecrew waiting outside, I stand by my statement.
I can only speak from my own experience where the firecrew have been in formation with the aircraft within seconds of coming to a halt on the RET.
The point of my post was to contrast that kind of scenario to a ship at sea, where clearly the crew are completely on their own.
Clearly if you know the firecrew are NOT present, the situation is different and one would make a snap decision as to a course of action. But having done done many a session in the smoke chamber, I am UTTERLY CONVINCED of the futility of stumbling around a smoke filled cabin when trained equipped personnel are available. You take a lungful of smoke, you're going down, THATS IT.
Stop thinking about being a hero and recognise the reality. If you go back into the flames you will almost certainly die, to no effect whatsoever. I don't mind taking a calculated risk, but throwing my life away? No thanks.
CPB