Circumstances of Death and Diagnostic Difficulties in Brushfire Fatalities

Abstract

The deaths of 10 bushfire (brushfire) victims (aged 2-59 years; M/F 1:1) from the files of Forensic Science SA in Adelaide, South Australia, over an 8-year period (January 2002 to December 2009) are reported. Nine of the victims were found in or near motor vehicles. Death was attributed to incineration (N = 5), trauma from bushfire-related vehicle crashes (N = 2), inhalation of products of combustion with hyperthermia (N = 1), inhalation of products of combustion (N = 1), and undetermined (N = 1). Death scenes covered large areas and involved many victims. Loss of infrastructure and closure of local roads owing to debris limited access and made the finding of bodies difficult. Bodies in such fires may be exposed to the damaging effects of weather and animal predation. Heat damage hindered pathological assessment with resultant delays in identification. Assessment of antemortem injuries and determination of causes of death were also complicated by the condition of some of the bodies.

A study of osseointegrated dental implants following cremation

“…The incidence of disasters involving incineration of victims is increasing due to higher global temperatures creating a fire‐prone environment, increasing acts of terrorism and increased high‐speed travel . The identification of victims of incineration events is a daunting and intensive task .…”

“…However, the loss of the organic component of human teeth causes shrinkage and cracking and above 1000 °C the teeth became very fragile. Other problems in the preservation of remains include damage by falling rubble, accidental damage by firefighters and exposure to the damaging effects of weather and animal predation …”

Farming deaths – an ongoing problem

“…Entrapment in wheat within a silo may also result in death from a combination of suffocation and chest compression. Other deaths have been caused by exposure to extremes of temperature, to insecticides and to the effects of brushfires (bushfires) [20]. Given the average age of the decedents, the possibility of significant underlying organic disease should be considered.…”

The autopsy evaluation of “straightforward” fire deaths

“…It should also be appreciated that levels of carbon monoxide that are not normally regarded as lethal (25%) may still have fatal consequences in those with significant underlying cardiovascular disease [3]. In other cases where there has been very rapid burning with fast consumption of environmental oxygen, for example with accelerants or a bush fire [9], a "flash fire" effect may also cause death from oxygen deprivation with minimal levels of carbon monoxide being present. The lack of carbon monoxide in the peripheral blood in circumstances such as this should not therefore be taken as evidence that death had occurred before the fire began [3].…”