Fire deaths in children in South Australia from 1989 to 1998

A study was undertaken of childhood deaths caused by fires in South Australia over a 10-year period from 1989 to 1998. A total of 23 deaths of children occurred with an age range of 2 months to 16 years (mean 5 years 10 months; M:F = 13:10). Fourteen deaths were associated with house fires, four with fires in cars and four were miscellaneous or unspecified. While house fire deaths remained the major cause of childhood fire deaths (65%), deaths in car fires accounted for a significant proportion of cases (17%). Although the numbers are small, cars represented a specific danger because of their confined space with highly flammable interiors, lockable doors, and built in non-childproof lighters. Cars should not be regarded as suitable places to leave young children, or for children to play in unsupervised.