In this paper, we examine fire prevention planning in terms of analysis of population trends with regard to the area covered by Merseyside fire and rescue service in the North West of England. In particular, we present an examination of the potential impact of changing population characteristics previously identified as being associated with fire risk such as old age, living alone, behaviours and lifestyles such as smoking and alcohol consumption, and health and social care provision for the most vulnerable groups upon fire prevention strategies. Overall, the examination of the likely impact of population trends on fire risk identified the following impacts for the area covered for the fire and rescue service concerned: a likely increase in fire risk associated with the elderly and those with a long-term health problem or disability, and a likely decrease in fire risk associated with smoking and alcohol consumption, apart from alcohol consumption by the elderly. Based upon this analysis fire prevention for this area should increasingly target the elderly, the disabled and those with mental health and neurological conditions. This would be relevant to other fire and rescue services worldwide that have similar population trends that could impact fire risks, and also provide guidance for appropriate actions with regard to fire prevention.

在本文中，我们通过分析英格兰西北部默西塞德郡消防和救援服务所覆盖地区的人口趋势来研究防火计划。尤其是，我们对先前被认为与火灾风险相关的人口特征变化的潜在影响进行了检查，例如老年人，独居，行为和生活方式（如吸烟和饮酒）以及为大多数人提供的健康和社会护理弱势群体的防火策略。总体而言，对人口趋势可能对火灾风险的影响的检查确定了对有关消防和救援服务区域的以下影响：与老年人以及长期健康问题相关的火灾风险可能增加，或者失能，除老年人饮酒外，与吸烟和饮酒有关的火灾风险可能降低。根据这一分析，该地区的防火工作应越来越多地针对老年人，残疾人以及精神健康和神经系统疾病的人群。这将与全球其他具有类似人口趋势并可能影响火灾风险的消防和救援服务有关，并为防火方面的适当行动提供指导。