Background The escalating incidence of fire outbreaks in Malaysia poses a critical threat to life safety and property, which highlight the necessity of historical data examination to recognise patterns and vulnerabilities. From 2000 to 2019, Malaysia witnessed a 328% increase in fire incidents, resulting in substantial damage, loss of property, and a tragic impact on human lives.

Objective While the United Nations 2030 Agenda does not explicitly mention "fire," various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the agenda are influenced by fire-related impacts. Therefore, this research considerably contributes to the advancement of knowledge regarding fire incidents and the relative risk of fire-related fatalities and injuries in Malaysia, as a country that aspire to become a high-income, inclusive, environmentally sustainable nation.

Methods The examination of the collected and organized data was systematically divided into two sections. In the first section, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, covering both descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient examination. Pearson’s correlation was applied for this purpose, utilizing Python (version 3.11). The second section was dedicated to study the relative risk associated with fatalities and injuries in each Malaysian state.

Results Arson was found as the predominant cause of fires throughout the country, followed closely by electrical fire and smoking related fires. Regionally, the findings show Negeri Sembilan state as having the highest relative risk of fire-related fatalities, closely followed by Malacca. In terms of injuries, Malacca takes precedence with the highest relative risk. Additionally, the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan present a notably lower relative risk for both injuries and fatalities.

Conclusion The findings highlight the need for a more sophisticated approach to fire prevention and safety. With arson identified as a major cause, it is crucial to focus on targeted interventions to investigate and reduce manmade fires. Additionally, the differences in risk levels across states mean that preventive measures need to be customized. States with lower relative risks show that current safety measures are effective, but these still require continuous monitoring and improvement. These strategies, can help Malaysia to significantly reverse the actual trend of fires, minimize injuries and fatalities, and strengthen its emergency plans against this growing threat.