Skip to start of content

Home → Publications → Reports → Trends and issues → Fatal fires : fire-associated homicide in Australia, 1990-2005

Fatal fires : fire-associated homicide in Australia, 1990-2005

Abstract

The use of fire in homicide can involve a fire as a direct weapon to commit homicide, or to conceal homicide. It can involve the additional crime of arson, the act of deliberately setting fire to property. Analysis shows that, while homicide trends over this period have declined, the proportion of fire-associated homicides has increased significantly; a trend which has also been observed overseas. This paper examines the involvement of fire, either directly or indirectly, in the commission of homicide in Australia. The term fire-associated homicide refers to victims of homicide where the primary cause of death is fire-related (e.g. burns, smoke inhalation, toxic gases), as well as homicide victims with some other cause of death, where the incident involved arson or post-mortem burning of the victim. This report identifies key differences in the characteristics of offenders and victims between these two forms of homicide. The increasing proportion of fire-associated homicide justifies continued monitoring of this phenomenon over time.

Related links