What is a common effect of chemical exposure in a fire?

Chemical exposure during a fire can have severe health impacts on individuals, particularly affecting the respiratory system. Inhalation of smoke, toxic fumes, and hazardous materials can lead to respiratory distress or injury, which may manifest as difficulty breathing, coughing, or even more severe lung damage. This outcome is a significant concern for both firefighters and civilians in the vicinity of a fire.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the typical effects of chemical exposure. Increased visibility may occur in some situations but is generally not a result of chemical exposure. Similarly, chemical exposure is unlikely to reduce fire spread; in fact, it can potentially increase the intensity and spread of a fire if flammable chemicals are involved. Immediate cooling of the environment is also not a common effect; fires tend to raise temperatures rather than cool the surrounding area, especially due to the heat generated by combustion processes.