Environmental circumstances surrounding bushfire fatalities in Australia 1901–2011.

Highlights: [•] Unique dataset on fatalities/house loss during bushfires over the last 110 years. [•] Understanding circumstances of death related to bushfire. [•] Fire weather, proximity to forest and decision making are considered. [•] The fatalities are dominated by iconic bushfires under severe weather conditions. [•] Setting context to discuss appropriate defensive action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]