Objective: To analyze bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens of burn victims who inhaled smoke, in order to identify alterations associated with mortality or survival. Methods: Eighteen victims of facial burns were submitted to BAL up to 24 h after the event. We investigated cell and protein content, including TNF-α, HLA-DR, CD14, CD68 and iNOS. Results: Of the 18 patients submitted to bronchoscopy, 8 (44.4%) died during the follow-up period. The mean age of patients who died was significantly higher (44.7 vs. 31.5 years). On average, the patients who died had burns covering 60.1% of the total body surface area, compared with 26.1% in the survivors (p < 0.0001). Of the 18 patients submitted to bronchoscopy, 11 (61.1%) showed endoscopic signs of smoke inhalation injury, and 4 (36.4%) of those 11 died. Of the 7 patients with no signs of smoke inhalation injury, 4 (57.1%) died. The mean number of ciliated epithelial cells in the BAL fluid was significantly higher in the patients who died than in the survivors (6.6% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.03). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of any of the other parameters evaluated. Conclusions: The total body surface area burned was a predictive factor for mortality. Increased numbers of ciliated epithelial cells in the BAL fluid, denoting bronchial epithelial desquamation, were associated with higher mortality in patients with facial burns. (44,7 vs. 31,5 anos). A superfície corporal queimada foi em média de 60,1% nos pacientes que morreram e de 26,1% nos sobreviventes (p < 0,0001). Entre os 18 pacientes submetidos à broncoscopia, 11 (61,1%) apresentaram sinais endoscópicos de lesão por inalação de fumaça, e 4 (36,4%) destes faleceram. Dos 7 pacientes sem sinais de lesão por inalação de fumaça, 4 (57,1%) faleceram. A média do número de células epiteliais ciliadas no LBA dos pacientes que morreram foi significativamente maior daquela dos sobreviventes (6,6% vs. 1,4%; p = 0,03). Os demais parâmetros analisados não mostraram diferença entre os grupos. Conclusões: A superfície corporal queimada mostrou ser um fator preditivo de mortalidade. O aumento do número de células epiteliais ciliadas no LBA, denotando descamação epitelial brônquica, esteve associado à maior mortalidade de pacientes com queimaduras faciais.Descritores: Queimaduras; Lesão por inalação de fumaça; Lavagem broncoalveolar; Células epiteliais brônquicas; Macrófagos; Fator de necrose tumoral alfa.