Download - Investigating Fires in Hoarding Households
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Investigating Fires in
Hoarding Households
Melanie Rebane
Senior Firefighter
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Hoarding in NSW
•12% of fatalities since 2009.
•70% aged over 50 years.
•21% of all fatalities in 2014.
•4% of NSW population.
Macquarie University Emotional Health Clinic, 2010
FRNSW FIRU, 2014
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Fire risks and hazards
• Abnormally high fuel loads.
• Higher density of materials = greater opportunity for ignition and
increases fire intensity.
• Blocked or impeded access/egress.
• Unorthodox items.
• Unorthodox use of utilities =
unsafe cooking and heating.
• No working smoke alarms.
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Addressing the risk
• Improve operational response.
• Improve system for directing persons to appropriate
treatment and services.
• Enhance risk reduction advice.
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Build it, Burn it research
To determine the fire risks and hazards associated with
hoarding and elevated fuel loads, and,
To test the hypothesis of greater fire risks being
associated with hoarding.
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Comparative analysis
Level 8 Level 5Level 8 Level 5
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Key findings
FuelAnd its arrangement
Ignitionopen flame sources
Thermal
Insulation
Greater
effort
to extinguish and
overhauls
Rapid loss of
tenability
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Temperature comparison
Location Max. temp. Location Max. temp.
Left Wall, Front-Middle 906°C Right Wall, Back-Top 820°C
Left Wall, Front-Bottom 371°C Right Wall, Back-Middle 96°C
Left Wall, Back-Top 877°C Right Wall, Back-Bottom 17°C
Left Wall, Back-Middle 769°C Right wall, Front-Top 806°C
Left Wall, Back-Bottom 140°C Right Wall, Front-Middle 731°C
Back Wall, Top 980°C Right Wall, Front-Bottom 765°C
Back Wall, Middle 913°C Ceiling, Centre 1020°C
Back Wall, Bottom 456°C Front wall (baffle), Top 888°C
Floor, Centre 931°C
Burn 2
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Temperature comparison
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Risk Reduction Advice
Install photoelectric smoke alarms
- with 10 yr battery
Establish egress
- widen internal pathways
- unblock exits
Identify non functioning utilities and unorthodox use
- remove and discard all double adaptors
- check for overloaded power boards
- remove hoarded items from power boards, leads
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Risk Reduction Advice
Kitchen/cooking area
- establish 1 metre clearance
- remove combustibles around appliances
- remove suspect electrical items
Heating
- identify all heating sources
- establish 1 metre clearance
- remove suspect heaters
Lighting
- identify lighting sources
- refer use of candles for follow up
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Questions?
Melanie Rebane
Community Safety Coordinator
Ageing & Disabilities
Ph: 0409 603 149