Innovation Projects

How can we reduce the number of fire-related deaths in Estonia by at least half?

In the 1990s, three to four people died in fires in Estonia every week. Although the situation has improved considerably since then, the number of fire-related deaths remains too high: in 2020, fires claimed 36 lives.

The team explored new approaches to increase the likelihood of people escaping safely from a burning building. A package of solutions called “A Life-Saving Home” was developed to help save lives in high-fire-risk homes where changing residents’ lifestyles and fire-risk behaviours does not appear realistic.

The project involved the Estonian Rescue Board, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, the Social Insurance Board, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Tori Rural Municipality and Märjamaa Rural Municipality.

The project mentor was Laura Aaben.