A fire-critical aircraft or other component within a fire-risk zone includes a protective fire shield directly exposed to the fire-risk zone and separating the fire-critical component therefrom. The fire shield has an entirely composite construction composed of fiber cloth impregnated with a sacrificial resin which has a melting point that is below that of the fiber cloth. When exposed to fire, the fiber cloth remains substantially intact for at least the minimum period of time while the sacrificial resin is allowed to be at least partially consumed by the fire, such that the protective fire shield is partially sacrificed.