Victim Behaviors, Intentionally, and Differential Risks in Residential Fire Deaths
The majority of fire deaths in New Zealand occur in residential structures. These are seen as largely preventable and are a basis for fire safety and prevention strategies. While such strategies have emphasized technological and engineering solutions (i.e. smoke alarms, egress standards, building code reform), there has been a lesser consideration of victim behaviors as a key factor in fire safety and prevention. This paper reports on a study of behavioral factors in all unintentional residential fire deaths from 1997-2003 in which inquest reports were examined in order to determine a range of demographic, fire dynamic, forensic, and behavioral features in 131 cases. The results support others which highlight the potent role of victim behavior in fire ignition and spreading, and in fatal outcomes. Significant factors identified include alcohol consumption, acts of omission, carelessness, dangerous habitual behaviors, and consequences of disabilities. A dichotomy between intentional and unintentional fires was not supported, as several cases fell into a borderline group whose role in fire causation was established, although intent to harm was not. Features of this group included attention seeking, irrational behavior, and diminished cognitive/intellectual capacities. Those identified as being differentially at most risk of residential fire deaths were the young, the elderly, the disabled, and lower socioeconomic groups. Effective safety and prevention strategies must address specific behavioral characteristics of these disparate groups, especially socio-psychological processes, attitudes, and cognitive patterns that contribute to elevated fire risk. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed as part of a wider approach to fire safety and prevention strategies.
-
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1845640195
-
Corporate Authors:
Ashurst Lodge
Ashurst, Southampton United Kingdom SO40 7AA -
Authors:
- Miller, J
- Beever, P A
-
Conference:
- The First International Conference on Safety and Security Engineering (SAFE/05)
- Location: Rome , Italy
- Date: 2005-6-13 to 2005-6-15
- Publication Date: 2005-6
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 845-854
- Monograph Title: Safety and Security Engineering
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Behavior; Cognition; Fatalities; Fire prevention; Forensic medicine; Residential areas; Risk assessment; Safety; Safety and security; Socioeconomic factors
- Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01007105
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 1845640195
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Nov 11 2005 2:15PM