❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on house fires, smoke alarms, construction types, causes, and correlations between building materials and fatalities. The response provides data with caveats about data collection changes and ongoing research.
AnsweredQoN 1372Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Of all house fires attended by FESA in the Perth metropolitan area in the years 1998 to 2002 inclusive, how many houses had operating smoke alarms installed?
(2) How many had inoperative smoke alarms installed?
(3) What proportion of these houses were brick and tile construction, versus timber or other construction materials?
(4) In general terms, what were the causes of these house fires (children playing with matches, winter fires or radiators or faulty electrical wiring)?
(5) For those houses where lives of occupants were lost or where serious injury occurred, has a statistical analysis been carried out to determine correlations between building construction materials and the frequency of deaths or injuries?
(6) If yes, what do the statistics show and, if no, why has such a study not been conducted?
(7) Is there a correlation between the flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires?
(2) How many had inoperative smoke alarms installed?
(3) What proportion of these houses were brick and tile construction, versus timber or other construction materials?
(4) In general terms, what were the causes of these house fires (children playing with matches, winter fires or radiators or faulty electrical wiring)?
(5) For those houses where lives of occupants were lost or where serious injury occurred, has a statistical analysis been carried out to determine correlations between building construction materials and the frequency of deaths or injuries?
(6) If yes, what do the statistics show and, if no, why has such a study not been conducted?
(7) Is there a correlation between the flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2003
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
124 days
(1 – 2) A complete data set is not available for 1998 – 2002 due to changes to incident reporting software from 2000 on and the fine-tuning of input requirements for the software. From 2000 to 2002, FESA Fire Services attended 1625 property fires of which the fire incident data records 287 (18%) properties as having working smoke alarms fitted. No alarms were fitted to 1036 (64%) properties. The fire data for smoke alarms fitted for the remaining 302 (18%) properties are recorded as undetermined or reports not yet completed. FESA research conducted in April 2002 by a consultant indicated that 68% of Western Australian households had smoke alarms installed, of which 60% were operational. (3) For the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002, 86% of the fires attended were in homes constructed of double brick or brick veneer. The remaining fires attended included houses constructed of timber – cement clad (6%), timber – weatherboard clad (3%), steel frame (2%), and the remaining 3% of structures were across a range of construction types or not classified. Note: Double brick walls and tile or metal roof is the most common type of construction for residential properties in Western Australia. (4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
FESA research conducted in April 2002 by a consultant indicated that 68% of Western Australian households had smoke alarms installed, of which 60% were operational. (3) For the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002, 86% of the fires attended were in homes constructed of double brick or brick veneer. The remaining fires attended included houses constructed of timber – cement clad (6%), timber – weatherboard clad (3%), steel frame (2%), and the remaining 3% of structures were across a range of construction types or not classified. Note: Double brick walls and tile or metal roof is the most common type of construction for residential properties in Western Australia. (4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(3) For the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002, 86% of the fires attended were in homes constructed of double brick or brick veneer. The remaining fires attended included houses constructed of timber – cement clad (6%), timber – weatherboard clad (3%), steel frame (2%), and the remaining 3% of structures were across a range of construction types or not classified. Note: Double brick walls and tile or metal roof is the most common type of construction for residential properties in Western Australia. (4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
FESA research conducted in April 2002 by a consultant indicated that 68% of Western Australian households had smoke alarms installed, of which 60% were operational. (3) For the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002, 86% of the fires attended were in homes constructed of double brick or brick veneer. The remaining fires attended included houses constructed of timber – cement clad (6%), timber – weatherboard clad (3%), steel frame (2%), and the remaining 3% of structures were across a range of construction types or not classified. Note: Double brick walls and tile or metal roof is the most common type of construction for residential properties in Western Australia. (4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(3) For the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002, 86% of the fires attended were in homes constructed of double brick or brick veneer. The remaining fires attended included houses constructed of timber – cement clad (6%), timber – weatherboard clad (3%), steel frame (2%), and the remaining 3% of structures were across a range of construction types or not classified. Note: Double brick walls and tile or metal roof is the most common type of construction for residential properties in Western Australia. (4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(4) The leading causes of ignition in house fires for the period 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2002 were associated to home heating, cooking, careless acts, children, mechanical breakdown, electrical faults and deliberate acts. (5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(5 - 6) Of the 22 deaths which occurred in house fires between the 1st December 1999 and 30th July 2003, 20 (85%) occurred in homes constructed of brick / block walls and tile / metal roof. One death occurred in a steel frame home and in the remaining case, the building construction was not reported as they were in out buildings. It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
It is important to note that death or injuries occur prior to structure failure and in a number of instances the deceased have no thermal injuries. The smoke and heat production from furniture and fittings is the main cause of fire damage to buildings and injuries or deaths to occupants. The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
The current statistics are to be reviewed in the light of a five-year research program to be undertaken by FESA’s Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit in to fire related deaths in WA from 2000 to 2005. This program is to link into additional information from the Coroners Office and will analyse all elements of factors leading to a fire related death. This includes; age, gender, alcohol or drug intake, social isolation, ethnicity, smoke alarm location and operational status, security fittings, etc. (7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
(7) No research on correlations between flammability of house construction materials and the severity of damage caused by house fires has been conducted by FESA. All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
All structure fires have the potential to consume available combustibles provided the heat, fuel and oxygen levels are balanced. In FESA’s experience the level of damage will see only brick walls surviving once a fire is extinguished.
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