A KENT and Greenwich-based research project into how people react when a blaze breaks out in their home has been awarded £160,000 funding.
The scheme is jointly led by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) and the Fire Safety Engineering Group (FSEG) of the University of Greenwich.
It will involve contacting thousands of people who have experienced a house fire in a bid to understand their actions and motivations both during and after a fire.
The project hopes to provide detailed knowledge of how fire and rescue services can improve or develop new services and is being paid for over three years under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme.
Professor Ed Galea, director of the FSEG, said: "The study of human behaviour in domestic fires has been neglected for over 40 years, yet most fire fatalities occur in domestic dwellings.
"By understanding how people behave in these situations we hope to greatly improve survivability in domestic fires."
KFRS Chief Executive Ann Millington added: "As a result of human behaviour research many of us are now thinking about customer care in a very different way.
"Ultimately, the simple test is to consider what you would expect for your friends or family."
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