I totally believe that it could've been a possibility.
Something the Pappy dude doesn't understand is what I have seen which is very similiar to what you describe. It isn't pretty, but in my experiences, I was not a firefighter or EMT to have to freakin' witness it.
Fire can be eexplosive as it moves from room to room, and if you're hanging your head out of a highrise for some oxygen, you don't know what physical forces may do to you. It can be just what you mention.
TO the rest of the dorks that want to slam me on this thread, have you ever 'punched out' of an aircraft? If not, leave me TF alone!