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Examining spatio-temporal patterns, drivers and trends of residential fires in South East Queensland, Australia

Prem Chhetri (School of Business IT and Logistics, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia)
Jonathan Corcoran (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
Shafiq Ahmad (Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Kiran KC (Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia)

Disaster Prevention and Management

ISSN: 0965-3562

Article publication date: 10 September 2018

Issue publication date: 16 October 2018

451

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first is to examine the changing spatio-temporal patterns and regional trends in residential fires; and second is to investigate the likely association of fire risk with seasons, calendar events and socio-economic disadvantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Using spatial analytic and predictive techniques, 11 years of fire incident data supplied by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services are mapped and analysed.

Findings

The results show significant spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of residential fires. Residential fire incidents are more likely to occur in the inner city and across more disadvantaged areas. Mapped outputs show some areas in Brisbane at a higher risk of fire than others and that the risk of fire escalates at specific times of the year, in neighbourhoods with a higher disadvantage, during major sporting events and school holidays. The residential fires showed strong seasonal periodicity. There is a continuous yet gradual increase in the number of fire incidents recorded for all five sub-regions within SEQ. Sunshine Coast experienced the highest upward trend whereas Toowoomba and West Moreton show the lowest increase.

Originality/value

This study provides an empirical basis to guide future operational strategies through targeting high fire risk areas at particular times. This, in turn, will help utilise finite resources in areas where and when they need and thus enable minimise emergency management costs.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) for access to the data on which the paper is based. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments were very helpful in improving the quality of this paper. The interpretations of the analysis are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of QFES or any of their employees.

Citation

Chhetri, P., Corcoran, J., Ahmad, S. and KC, K. (2018), "Examining spatio-temporal patterns, drivers and trends of residential fires in South East Queensland, Australia", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 27 No. 5, pp. 586-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-09-2017-0213

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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