In November, Fair Lawn firefighters rescued a man from a room inside a burning house, but fire officials say the outcome could have been very different if the door to that room had been open. "Last week, we were proud to announce that two of our members received citations for saving a man back in November. But the fact is, if the door to the fire room was open, the results could have been very different," the fire department said in a social media post. In fact, the post states that the National Fire Protection Association recommends closing your bedroom door when you go to sleep. "Most houses have hollow-core wood doors installed. These doors will not prevent the fire from spreading. However, they can delay the spread of a fire, giving you enough time to get out a window or await the arrival of the fire department," Fair Lawn fire officials said. Officials say a closed door, in conjunction with working smoke alarms that are properly placed in the home, provides more protection in the event of a house fire than simply leaving the door open. "While fire rages outside the room, the inside of the room remains tenable," the post states. In some cases, keeping the door closed can not only save lives but also minimize the damage in the room that was protected. According to the NFPA, nearly 25% of reported fires between 2019 and 2023 took place in homes. The NFPA also says 70% of civilian fire deaths and almost 75% of reported civilian fire injuries resulted from house fires.