Transcript Melanie Rebane - National Hoarding and Squalor Conference 2014

Investigating Fires in
Hoarding Households
Melanie Rebane
Senior Firefighter
1
2
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
3
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.
4
Addressing the risk
• Improve operational response.
• Improve system for directing
persons to appropriate
treatment and services.
• Enhance risk reduction advice.
5
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.
6
Comparative analysis
Level
88
Level
Level 5
Level 5
7
8
Key findings
Fuel
And its
arrangement
Thermal
Insulation
Ignition
open flame
sources
Greater
effort
Rapid
loss of
to extinguish
and overhauls
tenability
9
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
10
Temperature comparison
11
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
12
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
13
Questions?
Melanie Rebane
Community Safety Coordinator
Ageing & Disabilities
Ph: 0409 603 149
[email protected]
14