- Author
- Ahrens, M.
- Title
- Possible Impairment by Alcohol or Drugs as a Contributing Factor in Home Fire Deaths.
- Coporate
- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
- Report
- NFPA No. USS86, November 2009, 42 p.
- Keywords
- medications | alcohol | home fires | death | fire statistics | residential buildings | building fires | fire safety | ignition
- Identifiers
- patterns of alcohol and drug use; possible alcohol or drug impairment
- Abstract
- This report examines fire circumstances and victim characteristics when possible impairment by alcohol or drugs was cited as a factor contributing to fatal injury and compares these circumstances and characteristics with those found in home fire deaths overall. Previously published incident descriptions are also included. Abstract: Based on data reported by the fire service, NFPA estimates that possible impairment by alcohol or drugs was a factor contributing to an average of 430, or 15%, of home fire deaths annually in 2003-2006. Although this percentage is lower than that typically found in studies based autopsy reports, data from the fire service about the fire deaths with alcohol involvement provides for a more detailed understanding of the circumstances of the fires and victim demographics. Seventy-one percent of the victims were male. Eighty-eight percent were over 14 and under 65 years of age. Forty-five percent of these deaths resulted from fires started by smoking materials. At the time of the incident, 46% of the victims were in the area of origin and involved in the ignition.