Review of Fire Statistics Data in Ukraine
Aim: To perform a comparative review of global fire statistics and statistical data obtained in Ukraine as well as to identify the principal areas of analytical studies focusing on civil protection against fires. Introduction: A review of global fire statistics reveals that Ukraine has an extremely low level of civil protection against fires. The number of fire deaths in Ukraine is almost 18 times higher than the average for EU Member States. In general, this is also true for other post-Soviet states, which share almost identical mechanisms of fire registration and fire services calls as well as the protection level of buildings in terms of automatic fire detection and firefighting systems. There is a need to study the available fire response mechanisms and practices and to thoroughly analyse the fire situation in Ukraine in order to increase the level of protection of population. Taking into account Ukraine’s efforts to introduce the unified mechanism of civil protection available in the EU, it is purposeful to conduct appropriate studies including comparisons with the relevant statistical data from selected EU Member States. Methodology: The studies were conducted using large-scale statistical monitoring, statistical generalisation and grouping of the statistical processing of generalised indices and subindices, and a thorough qualitative analysis of statistical data. Results: An overview of global data on fire causes and fire-related deaths was conducted; an unsatisfactory situation with regard to civil protection against fires as compared to global and European fire statistics is continuing in Ukraine. A number of differences in compiling fire statistics in Ukraine and EU Member States were identified, and a certain lack of correspondence as well as differences can be observed; in particular in the estimation of the functioning of emergency response systems. It was revealed that there is a need for further scientific analysis of global fire statistics and for studying the emergency response mechanisms and practices available in EU Member States; the efficiency of the emergency response system operated in Ukraine is low compared to that revealed in the statistical data on the operative and tactical activities of fire services in EU Member States. A thorough analysis of the causes of this situation should be conducted in order to identify the principal areas of analytical studies on civil protection against fires in Ukraine. In particular, we should perform a proper analysis of global fire statistics and study practices applied in the statistical registration of fires; a comprehensive estimation should be conducted of the efficiency of emergency response mechanisms and practices available in EU Member States, and the regulatory basis and principles of selecting fire department locations in settlement areas as well as the resources and means of response available in EU Member States should be studied.