Of the 150 residential 5re fatalities investigated by the State Coroner, Victoria, from mid-1990 to 1995, 132 resulted from 94 5res where the cause was either not deliberate or remained undetermined. Personal and behavioural characteristics of victims and survivors of these 5res are examined. The 18 deaths from 15 intentional 5res are described separately. Most victims evidenced known risk characteristics, such as being very old or very young, being asleep or being a4ected by alcohol. Victims under 5 years and over 65 were more likely to be awake and involved with the 5re start. Three quarters of those asleep and half of those awake did not move from their original location = the latter were all in direct contact with the 6ames. In 14 of the 22 single fatality 5res with survivors the victims were closer to the 5re source. Survivors with risk characteristics and those who were close to the 5re were likely to sustain injuries. Sample size is too small to indicate outcome di4erences between survivors with and without risk characteristics. Identifying individual factors that in6uence 5re starts and outcomes for both victims and survivors is important for modelling human response as well as for targeting safety education.