FIRE FATALITY STUDY - DEMOGRAPHICS OF FIRE VICTIMS

Injury or death caused by fire is frequent and largely preventable. Th is study was undertaken to define the populations locations, times and behaviours associated with fatal fires. Seven hundred and twenty-seve n fatalities occurring within the State of New Jersey, between the yea rs 1985 and 1991, were examined retrospectively. Most deaths were attr ibuted to a combination of smoke inhalation and burn injury. Five hund red and seventy-four fatalities occurred in residential fires. Smoking materials were the most common source of ignition for residential fir es. More than half of the fatal residential fires started between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Children and the elderly represented a dis proportionate percentage of fire victims. Victims under the age of 11 years or over the age of 70 years constituted 22.1 per cent of the sta te population but 39.5 per cent of all fire fatalities. Fire-preventio n efforts should target home fire safety and should concentrate on chi ldren and the elderly. The development of fire-safe smoking materials should be encouraged.