1. Residential Risk Referrals
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals
An organisational response to residential risk
Residential Risk Referrals

2. Community Resilience Emergency Management
Responsible for the development of strategies, policies and systems that reduce and mitigate the effects of emergency incidents on the community and firefighters
Works in partnership with internal departments and external agencies and delivers effective and efficient programs and activities
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

3. Responsive service delivery
Meets community expectation
Delivers increased efficiencies with less resources
Utilises opportunities to increase individual and community resilience
Is underpinned by:
- Prevention
- Preparedness
- Response
- Recovery
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

4. Community Resilience Emergency Management
Community Education
Fire Ed, Fit2Drive, Flames, Seniors Fire Safety
Community Development
VERMs/BRAP
At Risk Groups
Aged/disability/hoarding & squalor/social housing/social and financially disadvantaged
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

5. Challenges Ageing population including CALD
Growth and change in the aged and disability community services sector
Higher levels of disadvantage
Increase in single person households
Increased social isolation
Higher housing density
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

6. Residential Risk Referral System
Identifies risk
Assesses current and ongoing risk
Provides risk mitigation advice and/or identifies the most suitable agency or program to assess, support or respond to the risk
Underpinned by the principle that fire may be only one of a more complex range of risks
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

7. RRR
Starts at response to deliver recovery, prevention and preparedness
Was developed in response to firefighter advocacy for individuals identified through emergency response
Is the first systematic response of its type adopted by an Australian Fire Service
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

8. RRR – How it does it
Firefighters respond to an emergency incident at a residence
Firefighters identify an ongoing risk related to safety
Firefighters refer for follow up
The issue is assessed and referred to an external agency or program for further assessment, support and/or intervention
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

9. RRR – How it works 1. Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

10. RRR – how it works
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
There is an escalating response to hoarding incidents
Residential Risk Referrals

11. RRR Case Study 1
Fire crews respond to a mattress fire at the home of a female (80+) with good presentation
Fire started after occupant mistook electric blanket cable for a snake and hit it with a BBQ Mate, resulting in the mattress catching fire
No working smoke alarm
Occupant advises she may have had another fire recently but can’t remember
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

12. RRR Case Study 1- outcome
Contact was made with ACAS who advised person had previously been supported through a funded program
Program provider advised services previously ended despite person having a diagnosis of dementia and few supports
Provider contacted client and revisited
Provider put in weekend support to engage family interstate and organise urgent reassessment
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

13. RRR Case Study 2
Fire crews respond to kitchen fire in home of female (40+ and CALD) caring for four children under 5
Fire started from unattended cooking
No smoke alarms
The female occupant received burns fighting the fire rather than evacuating
The occupant called a friend before 000 was contacted
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

14. RRR Case Study 2 - outcome
Contact with Education Department identified the person was a registered family day care provider and that an increasing number of CALD providers are delivering services
The family day care provider program has clear policies in relation to smoke alarms and emergency procedures
Department advised it would support the provider with training and re-engage all other providers within region
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

15. RRR research
Study developed and managed by MFB and undertaken by students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute USA
Analysed 800 referrals received from firefighters and external sources
The aim was to identify common risks, occupant profile, location, property tenure, geographical location, rates of referral
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

16. RRR research
Referrals are received from across the Metropolitan District
Referrals have increased by an average of 57% per year since 2007
Referrals are predominantly from operational firefighters
Referrals from firefighters result from a broad range of emergencies, not just fire
2-6 referrals a week are received from firefighters
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

17. RRR research
Firefighters undertake this activity with no formal training
96% of referrals include more than one risk with firefighters identifying 4.2 risks per individual and external referrals identifying risks
The three most common risk referred are:
- Hoarding and squalor
- Age related disability
- Access and egress
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

18. RRR research
Older people were over-represented, with 57% being over 65 and 22% being over 80
This is consistent with a fire fatality study which identified that 50% of fatalities involve people aged 65+
Disability was identified in over half of all referrals inclusive of mental health with many having multiple disability
Living alone was the most commonly identified occupancy profile – this is consistent with a fire fatality study which identified 63% of all victims lived alone
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

19. RRR research
Most referrals related to people living in owner-occupied properties but public housing was proportionally over- represented
Referral addresses were more often from areas of disadvantage, even from suburbs which were predominantly advantaged
Outbound referrals were more often directed to various departments of local government, but commonly included aged care assessment services and mental health
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

20. RRR research Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

21. Residential risk referrals
Deliver an improved outcome for individuals
Build individual and community resilience by connecting people to assessment, support and services
Demonstrate that firefighters understand the duality of the organisations role and responsibilities in relation to emergency response and prevention
Are best summarised by a firefighter: “I just couldn’t walk away and do nothing”
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals

22. Questions At Risk Groups MFB AtRiskGroups@mfb.vic.gov.au Julie Harris
Manager At Risk Groups
Community Resilience Emergency Management
Martin Braid
Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Director Community Resilience Emergency Management
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Residential Risk Referrals