The fire risk in a cement house is just about everything in the house. Anything I list below will burn in a house fire.

carpets
curtains
clothes
furniture
electricals
functional wood- rafters, floor joists, doors etc.

that's just the start.

The external walls may still be standing, but everyone in it can be just as dead of smoke inhalation, assuming the floors and roof haven't fallen in on you as well.


However, for an apartment block, assuming you build with fireproof floors, it is sensible to build in brick/concrete etc. The place where the fire starts still has to get out just as fast , but the neighbours are far safer.