13-government-services-2013-chapter9

Fire hospitalisation rates need to be interpreted with caution because of the small
number of fire injuries. One method to overcome data volatility is to present fire
hospitalisation rates as three-year averages. Three-year average fire hospitalisation
rates are reported in the data attachment tables for each jurisdiction (table 9A.7).
Confinement to room/object of origin
‘Confinement to room/object of origin’ is an indicator of governments’ objective to
reduce the adverse effects of fire emergency events on the community through a
combination of its prevention/mitigation, preparedness, and response (box 9.11).
Box 9.11 Confinement to room/object of origin
‘Confinement to room/object of origin’ is defined by two measures:
• Proportion of building fires confined to room of origin — A building fire is a fire that
has caused some damage to a building structure (such as a house). Confinement of
building fires to room of origin is a measure of the proportion of building fires
confined to the room in which the fire originated.
Confinement of building fires to room of origin is reflective of the response strategies
of the fire services to extinguish structure fires before they cause extensive building
damage. It also reflects of the community’s overall mitigation and preparedness
strategies such as constructing buildings that are fire resistant, installing and
maintaining operational smoke alarms, and other fire safety practises.
• Proportion of building and other structure fires confined to room/object of origin —
Other structure fires are fires within a building structure (such as fires confined to
rubbish bins, burnt foodstuffs and fires confined to cooking equipment) that require
a fire service response. Confinement of building and other structure fires to object,
part room and room of origin is a measure of the both the proportion of building fires
and other structure fires confined to the room and/or object from which the fire
originated.
Other structure fires confined to object of origin is reflective of the community’s
overall mitigation and preparedness strategies such as constructing ‘objects’ (such
as electronic appliances, cooking equipment, and chimneys) that are fire resistant. It
is also reflective of the community’s response abilities to contain a fire by having
working fire alarms, fire extinguishers and/or fire blankets.
A high or increasing proportion of structure fires confined to the object or room of origin
is more desirable.
Data reported for this indicator are not directly comparable.
Data quality information for this indicator is at www.pc.gov.au/gsp/reports/rogs/2013.
9.32 REPORT ON
GOVERNMENT
SERVICES 2013