13-government-services-2013-chapter9

Figure 9.4 Ignition factors for structure fires, 2011-12
Per cent
100
80
60
40
20
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. b SA: Ignition by unattended heat source is not available for SA.
Data source: State and Territory governments; table 9A.16.
Nationally in 2011-12, the ignition factor for 23.2 per cent of structure fires was
‘undetermined or not reported’. For structure fires where the cause of ignition could
be determined, the most commonly reported factors reported were:
• unattended heat sources (15.4 per cent)
• short-circuit, ground fault and other electrical failure (10.6 per cent)
• suspicious (7.3 per cent) (table 9A.16).
Fire incidents — Reported number of landscape fire incidents
Landscape fire incidents include all vegetation fires (such as bushfires or
grassfires), irrespective of the size of the area burnt and can vary substantially in
their impact on fire resources, the community and longer term consequences. The
number and severity of landscape fires is influenced by many factors, including
environmental factors such as weather and climate, with the majority of landscape
fires triggered by human activity (AIC 2008).
Nationally, 37 985 landscape (bush and grass) fire incidents were reported by fire
service organisations and land management agencies in 2011-12, a rate of 169 fires
per 100 000 people, or 4.9 per 100 000 hectares (figure 9.5 and table 9A.15).
9.12 REPORT ON
GOVERNMENT
SERVICES 2013
Unattended heat sources Short-circuit / electrical failure
Suspicious Undetermined/not reported
Other factors
NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust