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Death by Fire

Death by Fire. Professor Bob Peckitt The Centre for Forensic Studies Cheswold Park Hospital. Death in Fires. Study of Wright and s mith July 2006 Greenstreet Berman “Human behaviour in fatal fires”. Investigation of Fatal Fires. 535 fatal fire investigations from 2002-2006

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Death by Fire

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  1. Death by Fire Professor Bob Peckitt The Centre for Forensic Studies Cheswold Park Hospital

  2. Death in Fires • Study of Wright and smith July 2006 Greenstreet Berman • “Human behaviour in fatal fires”

  3. Investigation of Fatal Fires • 535 fatal fire investigations from 2002-2006 • 47% of all fires involved substance misuse • 33% Alcohol • 12 prescribed drugs

  4. Alcohol and Fatal Fires • Alcohol associated with fatalities at nights and weekends • Less substance misuse in elderly • Most in 50-59 year group

  5. Characteristic of Victims • Mental impairment in 15 % • Depression most common • Physical impairment in 29% of all fires • 22% wheelchair users • 77% impaired in some way

  6. Causes of Fires • 49% caused by careless smokers • Chip pan 11% • Cooking 7% • Naked flame 6%

  7. Conclusion • Accident • Misadventure • Recklessness • Criminal damage • Arson • Manslaughter • Murder

  8. Negligent or Reckless Fire Setting • 75% inappropriate attitudes and behaviour • 40 % caused by careless or risky use of materials which caught fire

  9. Alcohol and Cigarettes • 44% due to combination of both excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking whilst drowsy.

  10. Wakefulness • 51% asleep • 17% unconscious for some reason • 75% single person household • 40% men • 28% women

  11. Reaction From Victim • 71% asleep/unconscious/ • suicidal/immobile • 64% fatal fires, victims impaired by alcohol prescribed drugs or mobility

  12. What Burned First? • Furniture 29% • Bedding22% • Clothing 19%

  13. Detectors • 30% had no detectors • Lack of risk awareness • Tennant status • Alarms were a nuisance • 23% had detector • 14%fatal fires, not working

  14. What We Don’t Know • Ethnicity • Deprivation • Overcrowding

  15. Known to Services • 31% had been in contact with a service • 12% had been in contact with fire brigade before • 3% had had a fire before

  16. Building Design • In the same room • If died and fire not in same room then • Internal doors left open • Smoke up the stairs • Lack of alarms

  17. Overall Majority of Cases • Single person impaired by substance, age or depression. • Carelessly ignites textiles often by cigarette or similar flame. • Fails to react immediately because of impairment and lack of smoke alarm. • Fires discovered by neighbour passer by because person lives alone.

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