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Investigating Fires in

Hoarding Households

Melanie Rebane

Senior Firefighter

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Hoarding in NSW

•12% of fatalities since 2009.

•70% aged over 50 years.

•21% of all fatalities in 2014.

•4% of NSW population.

Macquarie University Emotional Health Clinic, 2010

FRNSW FIRU, 2014

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Fire risks and hazards

• Abnormally high fuel loads.

• Higher density of materials = greater opportunity for ignition and

increases fire intensity.

• Blocked or impeded access/egress.

• Unorthodox items.

• Unorthodox use of utilities =

unsafe cooking and heating.

• No working smoke alarms.

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Addressing the risk

• Improve operational response.

• Improve system for directing persons to appropriate

treatment and services.

• Enhance risk reduction advice.

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Build it, Burn it research

To determine the fire risks and hazards associated with

hoarding and elevated fuel loads, and,

To test the hypothesis of greater fire risks being

associated with hoarding.

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Comparative analysis

Level 8 Level 5Level 8 Level 5

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Key findings

FuelAnd its arrangement

Ignitionopen flame sources

Thermal

Insulation

Greater

effort

to extinguish and

overhauls

Rapid loss of

tenability

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Temperature comparison

Location Max. temp. Location Max. temp.

Left Wall, Front-Middle 906°C Right Wall, Back-Top 820°C

Left Wall, Front-Bottom 371°C Right Wall, Back-Middle 96°C

Left Wall, Back-Top 877°C Right Wall, Back-Bottom 17°C

Left Wall, Back-Middle 769°C Right wall, Front-Top 806°C

Left Wall, Back-Bottom 140°C Right Wall, Front-Middle 731°C

Back Wall, Top 980°C Right Wall, Front-Bottom 765°C

Back Wall, Middle 913°C Ceiling, Centre 1020°C

Back Wall, Bottom 456°C Front wall (baffle), Top 888°C

Floor, Centre 931°C

Burn 2

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Temperature comparison

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Risk Reduction Advice

Install photoelectric smoke alarms

- with 10 yr battery

Establish egress

- widen internal pathways

- unblock exits

Identify non functioning utilities and unorthodox use

- remove and discard all double adaptors

- check for overloaded power boards

- remove hoarded items from power boards, leads

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Risk Reduction Advice

Kitchen/cooking area

- establish 1 metre clearance

- remove combustibles around appliances

- remove suspect electrical items

Heating

- identify all heating sources

- establish 1 metre clearance

- remove suspect heaters

Lighting

- identify lighting sources

- refer use of candles for follow up

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Questions?

Melanie Rebane

Community Safety Coordinator

Ageing & Disabilities

Ph: 0409 603 149

melanie.rebane@fire.nsw.gov.au