An evaluation of the role of fire extinguishers

32. Pets were also found to be very influential in driving behaviours. For some, they are their only
companion and were afforded the same importance as a person would be. Their wellbeing and
how they were treated (even if they did not survive) matter.
33. The importance of possessions can easily be overlooked and dismissed as most objects are
replaceable. Whilst that is true for many items, not all possessions are equal. For some people, a
laptop may just be an easily replaced entertainment device, storing nothing of importance. For
others, it may contain the only record of their personal or business records, which if lost, would
severely impair their future prosperity. Mobile phones may be important both for what they
contain but also because the occupier may foresee the need for one to stay in contact with
friends/families during and post-fire.
34. Items which cannot be replaced are also highly valued and may result in attempts to preserve them
from the effects of a fire. These may include obvious items such as photos, high-value items or
something with sentimental value. Other categories include those where replacement represents
significant perceived effort or inconvenience if lost, e.g. a passport or other formal documents.
Preservation of valued items, as determined by the owner, is an important outcome.
35. Long-term consequences – There are also other less obvious or longer-term consequences incurred
by the public. These are often invisible as they are not captured by routine data collection,
potentially due to perceived difficulties in obtaining or sharing information or even institutional
bias which does not recognise its value and importance.
36. This is compounded by the limited number of studies that have looked at dwelling/HMO fires from
the survivor perspective to understand, amongst other aspects, the emotional/psychosocial
experience and personal/extended impact. The public are exposed to many of the same (and some
unique) experiences as the professional responders. And whilst the potential mental health risks to
the latter are recognised, this is not the case for the public. As a result, they are unlikely to receive
the support they need after the fire. Studies have shown that even small fires can have long-term
or life-changing consequences and the impact of a fire is not always linearly proportional to its size.
37. It has also been found that for some people, the effects of a fire, in isolation or in combination with
other life events, can be overwhelming. They then experience various degrees of difficulty dealing
with everyday life and/or recovery from the fire. As a result, they suffer a form of vulnerability
which is greater than the sum of its parts and can affect every part of their life.
38. Linked to emotional wellbeing is the fact that people believe they did the right thing and all within
their ability to reduce the harm caused by a fire, particularly if they felt some degree of
responsibility for its cause or development. How people feel about their actions is an important
outcome and influence. This can be either positive or negative and relates to their own assessment
and the judgement of others.
39. Avoidance of the longer-term or consequential effects is clearly a good outcome for the individual
and others impacted as a result. Unlike the other categories, these long-term consequences are
likely to be less appreciated at the time by the public. As such, it may not influence their
behaviour during a fire, and it could be some time before they realise the true impact
it has had on them.
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