Residential fires account for the highest proportion of fire-related casualties globally, including in Malaysia. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing residential fire casualties in Selangor, addressing existing gaps in Malaysian fire risk research and informing context-specific risk reduction strategies.
Fire investigation reports from Selangor spanning 2012 to 2014 were analysed. Casualty rates were adjusted per 1,000,000 population, with demographic variables including gender, ethnicity and age used to identify vulnerable groups. Fire characteristics comprising Room of Fire Origin, Source of Ignition and Item First Ignited were examined using relative risk analysis and Pearson's correlation.
Males, children and the elderly were identified as the most vulnerable groups. Night-time fires carried greater fatality risks, underscoring the importance of early warning systems. Kitchens and living rooms emerged as high-risk areas, while soft goods and electrical appliances showed strong associations with casualties and fatalities.
The study is limited to Selangor between 2012 and 2014, which may restrict generalisability. Future research should incorporate broader geographic coverage, longer timeframes and behavioural factors influencing occupant response during fire incidents.
Findings support targeted fire prevention campaigns for high-risk demographic groups, reconsideration of building regulations particularly regarding security grilles and the promotion of fire-resistant furnishings and interconnected alarm systems in residential settings.
This study provides empirical fire risk evidence within a tropical climate context, demonstrating how local demographic, structural and environmental conditions shape fire casualty patterns in ways that differ meaningfully from temperate-country research.
