I appreciate it may come across as insensitive, but how do so many people die in a forest fire? It's not like it moves at the speed of light, is it? Surely people see the fire encroaching upon their home and leave, realising that throwing buckets of water on it would be futile.
Why stay & try and defend it? This is what home insurance is for.
“Other clubs never came into my thoughts once I knew Arsenal wanted to sign me.”