Economic Costs of Responders for Responding to Residential Fire Incidents in New South Wales, Australia

One in five fire incidents in Australia is residential fire. There is a paucity of data on the economic costs of responding to residential fires. The limited research has centred on fire services without due recognition of the involvement of other agencies. This study aims to determine the economic costs of all first responders for responding to New South Wales (NSW) residential fires. This was conducted using Fire and Rescue NSW administrative data from 44,623 residential fire incidents between January 2005 and March 2015, together with other publicly available information. Costs were expressed in terms of constant 2022 Australian dollars. Fire and Rescue NSW personnel spent an average of 130 minutes per residential fire, involving eight personnel. The total economic costs to all responders, including personnel and resources, for responding to residential fires, averaged AU$ 9.5 million per annum and AU$ 2,200 per incident. Both the total economic costs and costs per incident increased significantly by 1.4% and 2.8%, respectively, over a decade. This pioneering study sheds light on the costs of first responders for residential fires, providing valuable insights for policymakers to enhance preparedness for residential fires and associated consequences, recognising the broader economic impact extending beyond the primary agency.