How to Reduce Fire Fatalities in Residential Occupancies on the Way to a Rapidly Aging Society

Everybody may be vulnerable to fires depending on the time, place, and circumstances. Fire statistics show that the occurrence of fire death depends not only on the severity of a fire itself, but also largely on the conditions of occupants such as physical functions, the environment around occupants, and the type of facility where the fire occurs. The review of fire safety from the viewpoint of vulnerable populations does not simply mean additional special attention and care only to high risk groups, but instead it means significant review of fire safety design and systems for all people from a more universal standpoint. Therefore, in order to examine the strategies of a fire death-reduction program, it is very important to set appropriate targets of research and development as well as policies for fire safety measures suitable for the relevant high-risk groups considering the type of vulnerable person, the type of fire, and the type of building in residential occupancies. Solutions will require strenuous multilateral effort and flexibility.