Children aged 0 to 4 years old are disproportionately represented in home fire fatalities and burn injuries in Australia.
This vulnerable group relies heavily on adults to ensure their safety by removing hazards and preventing fires.
CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria are currently reviewing their Early Fire Safe program and resources targeted at parents and carers of young children. A review has been prompted by several factors, including fire fatality data, hospital burns admission data and some recent tragedies in Victoria.
The Preventable Residential Fire Fatalities in Australia July 2003 to June 2017 report revealed 70 preventable fire deaths among children aged 0 to4 years old, with lighters and matches often being the cause. Almost half of these deaths occurred in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
Recent hospital data also shows a shift in burn injuries for this age group, with more admissions from outdoor campfires and fire pits, and fewer from indoor heaters and flammable nightwear.
Addressing fire play and fire safety for the 0 to 4 age group has become crucial following several recent tragedies in Victoria. In October 2023, three children died and one child was critically injured in a shed fire in Corio. The four children involved were aged between 18 months and six years old and fire play was a likely cause.
The Victorian fire services, in collaboration with the Victorian Maternal and Child Health service, will work together to create an updated Early Fire Safe program to reach a broader audience and support families at higher risk.