A methodology is developed for collating fire fatality data from the Fire Incident Recording System and New Zealand Health Information Service and linking with coroners’ files to provide a comprehensive account of fire-related deaths in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Fire-related injury is found to be the leading cause of unintentional death from injury in the domestic environment for young people and adults aged 15-64 years, and one of the top three causes of unintentional death from injury in that environment for children and seniors.

Fire mortality rates are highest for children under five years, and seniors aged over 74 years, although the rates for seniors declined over the study period. Fire fatality rates are higher for male children and male adults aged under 55 years. There are marked disparities in fire mortality rates between Maori and non-Maori, and Maori are more likely to be involved in multiple fatality incident.