Victims and survivors in fatal residential building fires

Abstract

Of the 150 residential fire fatalities investigated by the State Coroner, Victoria, from mid-1990 to 1995, 132 resulted from 94 fires where the cause was either not deliberate or remained undetermined. Personal and behavioural characteristics of victims and survivors of these fires are examined. The 18 deaths from 15 intentional fires are described separately. Most victims evidenced known risk characteristics, such as being very old or very young, being asleep or being affected by alcohol. Victims under 5 years and over 65 were more likely to be awake and involved with the fire start. Three quarters of those asleep and half of those awake did not move from their original location - the latter were all in direct contact with the flames. In 14 of the 22 single fatality fires with survivors the victims were closer to the fire source. Survivors with risk characteristics and those who were close to the fire were likely to sustain injuries. Sample size is too small to indicate outcome differences between survivors with and without risk characteristics. Identifying individual factors that influence fire starts and outcomes for both victims and survivors is important for modelling human response as well as for targeting safety education.