Fires and Fire Safety

Every year people die as a result of fires in their homes with most fatal fires occurring at night, when people are asleep. The majority of fatal fires are accidental and preventable. The Fire Fatalities: Who's at Risk report, produced by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority (QFRA), identified that the people most at risk of dying from fires in their home were:

  • people aged 65 years and over
  • children aged between zero and four years
  • people not in the workforce (pensioner, retired, home duties, unemployed)
  • adults affected by alcohol

The links below provide information on protecting yourself from fires in the home as well as bushfires, and the psychological and physical health effects of both.

Reviewed September 2007

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Related HealthInsite Topics
Burns and Scalds
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about burns and scalds, and their treatment and prevention.
15 Resources Found
Results 1 to 15 displayed.
Title:   Child safety - reducing injuries
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   You can never completely 'child-proof' your home. However, you can dramatically reduce the risk of injuries by making a few changes and keeping your child under constant supervision. In any emergency, dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance.
Date:   Jan 2008
Title:   Bushfires and water tanks
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Smoke, debris and ash from a bushfire can contaminate water tanks. Sources of contamination can include dead animals, and debris or ash washed off the roof and into the tank when it rains.
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Bushfire smoke
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Bushfire smoke can affect air quality. It contains fine particles and gases that can be breathed deep into the lungs and may be harmful to health. It is important to minimise your exposure.
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Bushfire aftermath - hazards
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Houses, sheds and other buildings or structures that are burnt in a bushfire can leave potential health hazards in the remaining rubble, ash and debris.
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Wood fires and breathing problems
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The smoke from wood fires can affect air quality and may affect people's health. Wood smoke is generated from wood heaters, incinerators, open air burning and bushfires. People most affected by wood smoke include those with heart or breathing conditions (including asthma) or vascular complications from diabetes, infants and very young children, and frail older people.
Date:   Sep 2008
Title:   Pollution - air
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Pollutants in the air come from natural events (like bushfires) and human activities (including industrial processes). Examples of pollutants include gases, chemicals and airborne particles.
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   House fires and scalds: is your family at risk?
Publisher:   Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)
Description:   If fire breaks out in your home, chances of survival are twice as good if you have a smoke alarm installed. Scalds from hot water and hot drinks are among the commonest causes of serious injuries in young children.
Date:   Jul 1996
Title:   Learn or burn - campfire safety
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Kicking a bit of dirt or sand on the fire to put it out isn't smart, because underneath it stays hot for more than eight hours. If you or your kids later touch the dirt-covered fire for just a second, it can still be extremely hot and it will burn skin!
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Reduced-Ignition Propensity Cigarettes: a review of policy relevant information.
Publisher:   Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:   The report examines policy issues regarding reduced-ignition propensity cigarettes, which are cigarettes that have the reduced propensity to start fires, such as domestic house fires and bush fires.
Date:   Aug 2004
Title:   Learn or burn - campfire safety
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Kicking a bit of dirt or sand on the fire to put it out isn't smart, because underneath it stays hot for more than eight hours. If you or your kids later touch the dirt-covered fire for just a second, it can still be extremely hot and it will burn skin!.
Date:   Aug 2007
Title:   Interventions for promoting smoke alarm ownership and function
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Many people are killed or injured by house fires each year. Fires detected with smoke alarms are associated with lower death rates. This review found that programmes to promote smoke alarms increased smoke alarm ownership and function modestly, if at al...
Date:   Feb 2001
Title:   House fires
Publisher:   Raising Children Network (RCN)
Description:   Prevention of house fires, what to do in case of fire, and firefighting equipment and methods.
Date:   Oct 2008
Title:   Safety from fire
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Fire is something that we all need to know about. Home fires can cause serious burns and even death, so homes should be as safe as possible from fire.
Date:   Mar 2006
Title:   Learn or burn - campfire safety
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Kicking a bit of dirt or sand on the fire to put it out isn't smart, because underneath it stays hot for more than eight hours. If you or your kids later touch the dirt-covered fire for just a second, it can still be extremely hot and it will burn skin!
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Bushfires and children
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Research on children who have been directly affected by bushfires shows that some children experience emotional distress for a long time after the bushfire.
Date:   Nov 2005
Results 1 to 15 displayed.