13-government-services-2013-chapter9

Figure 9.2 Fire incidents attended by fire service organisations
per 100 000 peoplea, b, c, d, e, f, g
Incidents/100 000 people
1500
1200
900
600
300
0
a Qld: Accurate identification of incidents attended by QFRS Rural brigades is not possible at this stage due to
incomplete voluntary reporting procedures. QFRS Urban stations are estimated to serve 87.6 per cent of
Queensland's population. Flooding and wet weather in 2010-11 resulted in a lower than anticipated number of
landscape fires. b WA: Data include reported turnouts by career and volunteer services for all areas of the
State. c Tas: Data include all fire brigades, both full-time and volunteer. Due to industrial action 90 incident
reports are incomplete in 2008-09. d ACT: Includes data for urban and rural fire service organisations. e NT:
The high number of incidents per 100 000 people can be attributed to deliberately lit fires and the large
number of grass fires in northern Australia that are caused by the annual growth of vegetation following the
wet season. f The average for Australia excludes rural fire service data for some years as per the jurisdictions’
caveats. g Historical rates in this figure may differ from those in previous reports. Population data are revised
using Final Rebased ERP data following each Census of Population and Housing (the most recent census for
which data are available is 2006). Financial year population estimates are the midpoint estimate of the
relevant financial year (that is, as at 31 December).
Source: State and Territory governments (unpublished); table 9A.13.
Fire incidents — Accidental residential structure fires reported to fire service
organisations per 100 000 households
The rate of accidental residential structure fires per 100 000 households should be
interpreted with caution because the data are not directly comparable across
jurisdictions. In particular, rates are affected by differences in the practice of fire
service personnel in each jurisdiction, who determine and classify accidental
structure fires from structure fires resulting from other causes.
The national rate has been declining over the five year period, although rates for
jurisdictions show some variability over the period (figure 9.3).
9.10 REPORT ON
GOVERNMENT
SERVICES 2013
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust