- Author
- Holborn, P. G.
- Title
- Fire Deaths in London 1996-2000 (Real Fire Library: Analysis of Fatal Fires 1996-2000).
- Coporate
- South Bank Univ., UK
- Distribution
- FULL REPORT IS AVAILABLE AT:: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/fire_safety/ community_fire_safety/fire _deaths.asp
- Keywords
- fire statistics | death | fire departments | fire investigations | accidents | residential buildings | ignition source | alcohol intoxication | room fires | smoke detectors | time
- Identifiers
- fire deaths by property purpose group type; deaths in dwelling fires by cause of fire; accidential dwelling fire deaths by age of victim; accidential dwelling fire deaths by source of ignition; accidential dwelling fire deaths by blood alcohol concentration; accidential dwelling fire deaths by ethnic origin; accidential dwelling fire deaths by fatalities per incident; accidential dwelling fire deaths by London borough; accidential dwelling fire deaths by first material ignited; accidential dwelling fire deaths by defect act or omission; accidential dwelling fire deaths by fire room of origin; accidential dwelling fire deaths by dwelling type; accidential dwelling fire deaths by fire brigade command area; accidential dwelling fire deaths by cause of death; accidential dwelling fire deaths by where death occurred; accidential dwelling fire deaths by the reason why the victim was found adjacent to the fire; accidential dwelling fire deaths by smoke alarm provision; accidential dwelling fire deaths by personal circumstances; accidential dwelling fire deaths: variation with time
- Abstract
- Data from the London Fire Brigade Real Fire Library for the five-year period from 1996 to 2000 has been analysed with regard to fatal fires. Out of the 418 deaths recorded in this period the majority have been due to accidental fires in residential dwellings (279 fatalities), most frequently in purpose built flats (134 fatalities). Almost half the accidental fire deaths in dwellings were due to fires started by cigarettes, cigars or tobacco (131 fatalities) and they were usually caused through a careless disposal, igniting clothing and textiles or furniture and furnishings. In contrast, relatively few deaths were due to fires started by electrical appliances (8 fatalities). Well over half of the victims were over 60 years of age (158 deaths), while the annual death rate due to accidental dwelling fires increased significantly with age. In comparison with the 20 to 39 years age group, the death rate was five times as high for persons aged 60 to 79 years and was more than ten times as high for those aged 80 years or above. Cigarettes, cigars or tobacco were the most common source of ignition for these fires (73 fatalities aged 60 years or above), with a substantial number also due to cooking and heating appliances (43 fatalities aged 60 years or above). Over a fifth of accidental dwelling fire death victims suffered from some form of disability (58 fatalities). Most of these were old people aged 60 years or above and disability was a common reason cited for the victim's body being found next to the fire. Nearly a quarter of the victims of accidental fire death in dwellings had a blood alcohol level that measured in excess of the UK legal driving limit (65 fatalities). Over half of these victims would have been highly intoxicated at the time of death (39 fatalities). The majority of these fires were started by cigarettes, cigars or tobacco. Alcohol intoxication was also a common reason cited for the victim's body being found close to the fire. The age groups most commonly involved were 40 to 59 years and 60-79 years. Few were aged 80 years or above. The majority of the accidental fire deaths in dwellings involved persons who were of white ethnic origin (218 fatalities). The data suggests that there was little variation in death rate between the different ethnic groups. The London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Brent and Westminster had the highest accidental dwelling fire death rates. There is also evidence for a degree of correlation existing between measures of deprivation and the accidental dwelling fire death rate at a borough level. The available data suggests that approximately four out of five accidental fire deaths occurred in dwellings that were not fitted with a smoke alarm.