Does anyone actually have access to that "test" about the revolver's discharge velocity? I'd be curious at what is possible when there is absolutely zero barrel, just the cylinder. Much of the velocity imparted is while the gas forms behind the bullet, in the barrel. There would only be as much pressure as causes the bullet to move, venting the gas into the atmosphere of the rounds not firing into the barrel.
As for the freestanding fire, the rate of combustion is highest in the free-standing fire, and it's moving the fastest. Having vented through the roof, it will pull the smoke out, but the heat is up, and the structure has suffered weakening of the walls and roof.
There is a difference between a free-burning fire, and a fire that has been ventilated. Normally, the free-burning structure has sustained more massive damage. Arriving early, and ventilating the structure, normally allows the smoke and heat to be reduced, allowing for better visibility, with the attendant ease of extinguishing that makes for. This prevents the damage associated with the fire venting itself.
Our first due, in Maryland, had literally hundreds of triple address Garden Style Apartments. None were sprinkled, and the addition of cable lines, DSL lines, and so on, had Swiss-cheesed the fire stops. General SOP was that arrival with a burning roof allowed for 5 minutes to bring the fire under control. After that, you pulled back to defensive operations. Far enough back that a wall collapse didn't catch you or your men.
