Hoarding and Squalor Fire Safety
Did you know that approximately 12% of fire fatalities in NSW have been associated with properties reportedly affected by hoarding and squalor conditions?
Hoarding and squalor can significantly increase fire risk and make it more difficult for occupants to escape and for firefighters to respond safely.
What is Fire and Rescue NSW's role?
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has no regulatory authority in relation to hoarding or squalor and does not diagnose conditions, enforce compliance, or conduct inspections on behalf of individuals or agencies.
FRNSW may receive notifications about potential fire risk concerns for operational awareness only. Entry into a property only occurs if a resident voluntarily invites firefighters for a standard Safety Visit.
What is hoarding and/or squalor?
Hoarding is a behaviour that involves persistent difficulty discarding possessions and, in many cases, continued accumulation of items. This can result in significant clutter that restricts safe access to rooms and prevents them being used as intended.
Squalor describes the condition of a living environment where there are very poor, unsafe or unsanitary conditions due to factors such as a build-up of waste, dirt, vermin or disrepair. Squalor can occur with or without hoarding.
In practice, properties may present as:
- hoarding without squalor (large volumes of possessions but relatively clean conditions),
- squalor without hoarding (limited belongings but unsafe or unsanitary conditions), or
- both hoarding and squalor together, which often presents the highest fire, health and access risks.
Why does hoarding and squalor increase fire risk?
Hoarding and significant clutter can increase fire risk because:
- the accumulation of materials can result in an abnormally high fuel load, increasing the likelihood of ignition and rapid fire spread
- blocked exits and narrow internal pathways can delay or prevent safe escape
- clutter can limit firefighter access and make fire suppression more difficult
- utilities such as electricity or gas may be disconnected, altered or used unsafely, increasing the risk of ignition during cooking or heating.
Hoarding and squalor are complex issues and often require long-term, coordinated support from appropriate services. Sudden or unplanned removal of items may cause distress and does not always result in sustained risk reduction.
General fire safety advice
For individuals, families or agencies supporting people living in properties affected by hoarding or squalor, general fire safety considerations may include:
- ensuring working smoke alarms are installed and maintained
- keeping exits and key pathways as clear as possible
- supporting safer cooking and heating practices
- addressing unsafe or disconnected utilities through appropriate service providers.
Reporting fire risk concerns
If you are concerned about fire risk associated with hoarding or squalor, you can submit an online Hoarding & Squalor Fire Risk Report below.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has no regulatory authority to assess, manage or enforce action relating to Hoarding & Squalor on behalf of individuals or agencies.
By submitting this form, you acknowledge that, FRNSW will:
- notify the relevant Council, and
- inform local FRNSW crews of a potential high fire risk property for operational awareness only.
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