Fires

BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF FIRE! There are no longer any fire services to rescue you should you get reckless with a few Molotovs. There are also some very real disadvantages associated with burning the undead. I will list some of these.

-Time. Destroying the reanimated through fire takes 30 seconds minimum. That's thirty seconds the zombie can continue to walk towards you. If you can clear a space that a zombie can cross in 30 seconds ( 50meters approx., to be safe) , at least 100 meters away from you, and seal yourself inside a complete perimeter of fire, after addressing all the risks of smoke inhalation or what you will do once you run out of fuel, go ahead . But otherwise, understand that there are MUCH more effective and less potentially lethal methods of dealing with the walking dead!

-Walking candles. within that 30 seconds, a zombie could just as easily burn you to death in its clutches as it  would succumb to the flames itself. It could collapse in/near a building you are trying to defend and ignite it. Dealing with the undead is difficult enough without having to contend with evacuation as well!

-Attraction. Should your building burn down, every zombie within several kilometres will congregate around the light and noise. This is NOT an environment you want to safely escape in! How will you evacuate with a wall of flame to your back, and a wall of rotting flesh in your face? It is therefore imperative that you do everything in your power to prevent this from happening. Remember, zombies do not feel pain or fear. They are not deterred by flames and will walk in to devour you.

-Anaerobic decomposition. One of the major products of rotting flesh is Methane. Contrary to popular belief, Methane is odourless. However, in the case of the undead, it often accompanies H2S04 ('Rotten Egg Gas") which is easily identified by its putrid smell. Methane will begin to accumulate in any body after death, but will be most prevalent in dead that have reanimated in areas without the presence of oxygen (such as underwater or within enclosed spaces). Only 5 to 15% methane (within a rooms normal gas mixture) will be enough for a volatile explosion. If you have to enter rooms that contain/ have contained zombies, DO NOT SHOOT! The flash from the bullet could rip the building apart! Asphyxiation is unlikely, as only 19.5% oxygen within a room is necessary for respiration. Go with your common sense; if a room stinks of H2SO4, do not enter! Also, as corpses bloat, the inevitable rupture could ignite any cigarettes or other naked flames with gaseous fuel. Understand this and treat it with respect!