Residential fire incidents: New Stellenbosch University research reveals how alcohol consumption influences their rise and fall, highlighting critical implications for public safety and policy. Image credit: Justin Sullivan
(ThepotsNews) -Residential fire incidents have been shown to increase with higher alcohol consumption, according to recent research from Stellenbosch University(SU).
Study Published and Data Analyzed
The research, published in the International Journal of Fire Science and Engineering, analyzed fire incident data from 2020. This data was compared against a five-year baseline from 2015 to 2019
Research Team and Scope
Dr Natalia Flores Quiroz and Prof Richard Walls from Stellenbosch University’s Fire Engineering team led the study. They investigated formal and informal residential fires in Cape Town and compared local patterns with global trends.
Why Cape Town?
The researchers selected Cape Town for its detailed, high-quality fire incident records. The city’s significant socioeconomic disparities also provided a good comparison between formal and informal settlements.
South Africa’s Nationwide Alcohol Ban During the Pandemic
During the pandemic, South Africa was one of the few countries to impose a nationwide alcohol sales ban. The government enforced three separate bans during lockdown.
Impact of Alcohol Bans on Fire Incidents
While the bans primarily aimed to reduce trauma-related hospital admissions, they also likely contributed to a significant drop in fire incidents and other unexpected effects.
Significant Decline in Residential Fires
In April 2020, when the first alcohol ban began, residential fires in Cape Town dropped by 32% compared to the previous five-year average.
In informal settlements, the decline was 28%, while formal areas saw a larger reduction of 37%.
Immediate Effect of the Initial Ban
The alcohol bans had the strongest impact during their first rollout. The initial ban surprised many because it was enforced abruptly without warning, leaving little time to prepare.
Community Response to the Ban
News outlets reported widespread shortages and increased home-brewing attempts. Online searches for “pineapple beer” also surged. After the first ban lifted, people anticipated future restrictions and began stockpiling alcohol.
How Alcohol Increases Fire Risk
Alcohol does not directly cause fires. However, it often leads to risky behavior that raises the chances of fires starting. Alcohol impairs judgment, encourages unsafe actions, and slows emergency responses. Community members and firefighters frequently cite irresponsible drinking as a top fire hazard in informal settlements.
Quantitative Links and Policy Implications
Flores-Quiroz stresses that the study does not suggest reintroducing alcohol bans. Instead, it offers one of the first clear quantitative links between alcohol use and fire incidents.
Differences Between Informal and Formal Settlements
The study found that informal settlements experienced stronger effects from alcohol bans. This may be because residents had fewer options to store alcohol during bans. In contrast, formal settlement residents usually had more access and resources to prepare.
Global Comparisons with Other Cities
The researchers compared Cape Town’s data with cities like New York, London, Tokyo, and San Francisco. These cities imposed lockdowns but allowed alcohol sales to continue. During this period, their residential fire rates remained steady. Cape Town, however, saw a sharp decline in fires following its first alcohol ban.
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