21/04/2026
For firefighters like Mark Paton, running into fire is part of the job.
But for too many women in Australia, fire is something they're desperately trying to escape.
The reality is confronting.
- Women burned by a partner are three times more likely to die than those with accidental burns.
- In violence-related flame burns, petrol was the accelerant in 80% of cases, compared to 38% in accidental burns.
This is deliberate. Premeditated.
Arson, threats, and intimidation. Instilling fear that doesn't leave when the smoke clears.
Source: Yvonne Singer, Lincoln M Tracy, Claudia Malic, Lisa Martin, Belinda Gabbe, Heather Douglas, Burn Violence Against Women in Australia: The Tip of the Iceberg From Australian Burn Centers, Journal of Burn Care & Research, Volume 46, Issue 5, September/October 2025, Pages 1091–1098,