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Estimating the Total Number of Residential Fire-Related Incidents and Underreported Residential Fire Incidents in New South Wales, Australia by Using Linked Administrative Data

Author

Listed:
  • Nargess Ghassempour

    (School of Business, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia
    Rozetta Institute, The Rocks, NSW 2000, Australia)

  • W. Kathy Tannous

    (School of Business, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia
    Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia)

  • Gulay Avsar

    (School of Business, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia)

  • Kingsley E. Agho

    (Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
    School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia)

  • Lara A. Harvey

    (Fall, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
    School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia)

Abstract

The rate of fires, and particularly residential fires, is a serious concern in industrialized countries. However, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the reported numbers of residential fire incidents as official figures are based on fires reported to fire response agencies only. This population-based study aims to quantify the total number of residential fire incidents regardless of reporting status. The cohort comprised linked person-level data from Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) and health system and death records. It included all persons residing at a residential address in New South Wales, Australia, that experienced a fire between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2014. The capture-recapture method was used to estimate the underreporting number of residential fire-related incidents. Over the study period, 43,707 residential fire incidents were reported to FRNSW, and there were 2795 residential fire-related health service utilizations, of which 2380 were not reported. Using the capture-recapture method, the total number of residential fire incidents was estimated at 267,815 to 319,719, which is more than six times the official records. This study found that 15% of residential fire incidents that were identified in health administrative dataset were reported. The residential fire incidents that were not reported occurred mainly in socio-economically disadvantaged areas among males and adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Nargess Ghassempour & W. Kathy Tannous & Gulay Avsar & Kingsley E. Agho & Lara A. Harvey, 2021. "Estimating the Total Number of Residential Fire-Related Incidents and Underreported Residential Fire Incidents in New South Wales, Australia by Using Linked Administrative Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6921-:d:584015
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    Cited by:

    1. Nargess Ghassempour & Wadad Kathy Tannous & Kingsley Emwinyore Agho & Gulay Avsar & Lara Ann Harvey, 2022. "The Impact of Reduced Fire Risk Cigarettes Regulation on Residential Fire Incidents, Mortality and Health Service Utilisation in New South Wales, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Samar Al-Hajj & Larry Thomas & Shelley Morris & Joseph Clare & Charles Jennings & Chris Biantoro & Len Garis & Ian Pike, 2023. "Community Fire Risk Reduction: Longitudinal Assessment for HomeSafe Fire Prevention Program in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-18, July.

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