Quantifying the Economic Impact of Residential Fire-Related Fatalities in New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: Structural fire is a common hazard to property, people and environment in Australia. New South Wales (NSW) accounts for over one-third of all these fires, including residential, and one-quarter of associated hospital admissions and deaths. Residential fire injuries cause long-term sufferings and fatalities, imposing significant socioeconomic burdens on families and society. However, limited literature exists on the economic cost of residential fire-related deaths. This study aims to estimate the economic cost of lives lost from residential fire incidents in NSW.

Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted using linked fire brigade, health service, and mortality administrative data sets from 2005 to 2014. Human capital approach determined years of productive life loss for deaths aged 15 to 65 years, whereas years of life loss for all deaths were estimated using value of statistical life. Costs were expressed in constant 2024 Australian dollars. All deaths were assumed to occur within 30-days of a residential fire incident.

Results: A total of 341 residential fire-related deaths identified from linked data sets, of whom 179 were aged 15 to 65 years. Total years of productive life loss was 3306 years (18.5 per death), resulting in an economic loss of AU$320.9 million (AU$1.8 million per death). Total years of life loss across all deaths was 9012 years (26.4 per death), with an economic cost of AU$830.3 million (AU$2.4 million per death).

Conclusions: This is the first study to estimate economic cost of residential fire-related deaths in NSW using linked administrative data. The findings quantify the societal burden and inform fire prevention and public health policy.