OZschwitz: Money wasted on fire prevention

Subject: OZschwitz: Money wasted on fire prevention Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:05 pm

Australia spends too much trying to prevent fires and, if it outlaid less, could save more lives, according to a controversial study by an insurance researcher.

OZschwitz: Money wasted on fire prevention Artspendless620x349

Conceding the findings for such an emotive matter might upset some and anger others, Brian Ashe said a rational analysis of the $12 billion in annual funding for fire prevention backed his case.

Dr Ashe works with the insurance industry-funded Risk Frontiers research centre at Macquarie University. He gained his doctorate studying the cost of fire.

Writing in the Australian National University journal Agenda he says the cost of fires is about $18 billion a year, of which $11.9 billion is fire prevention and $4.4 billion response. The cost of injury, lost lives and property is only 9 per cent of the total - $1.7 billion.
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The fatality rate is ''low by international standards'' at 0.6 deaths per 100,000 of population and has proved ''resistant to increasing expenditure on fire management and protection''.

Dr Ashe surveyed 26 fire professionals and found none believed higher spending would bring a net economic gain. All but four believed Australia would be better off if it spent less trying to prevent fires.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/money-wasted-on-fire-prevention-20130120-2d1bg.html#ixzz2IYm6Ogfp

OZschwitz: Money wasted on fire prevention

OZschwitz: Money wasted on fire prevention

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