- Title:
-
Accidental Fire Fatalities in Residential Structures: Who is at risk?
- Date:
- October 2005
- Organisations
- BCRC
- Location:
- Australia, Australia
Overview
The ‘Accidental Fire Fatalities in Residential Structures: Who’s at Risk report is a combination of:
- a comprehensive literature review of at risk groups and fire fatalities
- an analysis of fire fatalities in Australia (excluding NT) and New Zealand.
Combining the data from the fire fatalities research with the findings of the literature reviews, the research identified six groups that are ‘at risk’ from dying in a residential fire.
• Children 0 – 4 years
• People aged 65 years and over
• People aged 80 years and over
• Alcohol-impaired people
• People from ethnic minorities
• Lower socio-economic groups.
The report also reviews the risk treatments that were currently being used to address these groups.
This project built on the 1998 ‘Fire Fatalities: Who’s at Risk?” Research Report and provided further insight into the identification of ‘at risk’ groups, time periods of elevated risk, and major causes of fatal fires.
Application of research
The findings from the report helped shape strategies used to disseminate information to caretakers of children about fire and fire safety, and to pediatric and geriatric physicians who can stress the dangers of fire in the home to the young and elderly.
It was also used to shape strategies to educate the elderly on the risk of residential fires in an attempt to alter their possible underestimated perception of risk.
Related Documents
The Sudanese Refugees and Fire Hazard Study
The Sudanese refugees and Fire Hazard study was undertaken as part of the QFRS Ethnic Communities Project and targeted the needs of African refugees, in particular Sudanese refugees.
Understanding Communities Project – an Overview
An overview of the work being conducted by the Bushfire CRC
