Thompson, Owain, Hulse, Lynn ORCID: 0000-0001-5582-3520, Wales, David and Galea, Edwin ORCID: 0000-0002-0001-6665 (2013) "Get out, stay out" versus occupier independence: the results of an 18 month study of human behaviour in accidental dwelling fires in Kent. In: Conference Proceedings: Interflam 2013: 13th International Fire Science and Engineering Conference. Interscience Communications, Greenwich, London, UK, pp. 943-954. ISBN 9780955654893

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Abstract

Building upon a paper presented at the International Symposium on Human Behaviour in Fire 2012, this paper presents the findings of a study conducted by Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the University of Greenwich into human behaviour during accidental dwelling fires (ADFs). In order to develop an understanding of the behaviours and motivations of those experiencing a domestic fire, quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the use of questionnaire survey that was distributed by post to those who directly experienced an ADF in Kent between April 2011 and October 2012. Using a methodology employed in the study of evacuation behaviour in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, 177 participants' activities were coded into a series of Information Tasks and Action Tasks and entered into a database from which statistics were produced using the software package SPSS. Results demonstrated that participants were more likely to have been affected by the flames and smoke and considered retreating from the room of the origin of the fire (ROO) if they perceived the fire as being more, rather than less, serious. Additional analysis undertaken on the number and sequence of tasks undertaken revealed a large proportion of particpants undertook several activities during the fire including: entering the ROO, fighting the fire, and re-entering the property. Furthermore, among the majority of those who did so, calling the fire service was the final or penultimate activity undertaken. This work is the precursor to a large-scale regional study that will begin later this year and involve Kent Fire and Rescue Service, the University of Greenwich and several other UK fire and rescue services.

Item Type:	Conference Proceedings
Title of Proceedings:	Conference Proceedings: Interflam 2013: 13th International Fire Science and Engineering Conference
Additional Information:	[1] This paper was first presented at Interflam 2013, the 13th International Conference and Exhibition on Fire Science and Engineering held at Royal Holloway College, University of London, UK, from 24-26 June 2013. [2] CMS REF: 13/27.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	human behaviour, accidental dwelling fire
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for Numerical Modelling & Process Analysis School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for Numerical Modelling & Process Analysis > Fire Safety Engineering Group
Related URLs:	Publisher Organisation Organisation
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2016 09:26
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/10822

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