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 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT
OP
THE FIEE MAESHAL
FOR   THE   PROVINCE   OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA
STATISTICS, 1930
wfctr
printed by
authority of the legislative assembly.
VICTORIA,  B.C. :
Printed by Charles F. Banfield, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
1931.  To His Honour James Alexander Macdonald,
Administrator of the Province of British Columbia.
May it please Your Honour:
The undersigned has the honour to present the Ninth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal
for the year ended December 31st, 1930.
R.  H. POOLBY,
A ttornep-General.
Victoria, B.C., March 31st, 1931. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
Report of Fire Marshal      5
Table I.—Inspections made and Orders issued 7,   8
Table II.—Fires reported 9,10
Table III.—Causes of Fires 11,12
Table IV.—Classification of Property 13-20
Table V.—Summary    21
Table VI.—Loss of Life     22 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL.
Office of Fire Marshal,
Vancouver, B.C., March 31st, 1931.
The Honourable R. H. Pooley, K.C,
Attorney-General, Victoria, B.C.
Sir,—I have the honour to submit my Ninth Annual Report as Fire Marshal for the year
ended December 31st, 1930.
I regret having to report an increase over 1929, both in the number of fires and the amount
of loss.
The increase in the number of fires is largely due to smokers' carelessness and sparks from
chimneys in the homes. While the individual loss may be small, you will notjce that the total
loss attributed to the causes is considerable.
The increased loss of $511,990 over 1929 is accounted for by the industrial fires, thirteen of
which amounted to $2,099,001. The largest single loss recorded was the Canadian National
Steamship pier in Vancouver, which accounted for a loss of nearly $732,000. This fire occurred
while the dock was under construction and was due to an unknown cause. Our investigation
revealed that this dock, located at the foot of Main Street, and exposing the wholesale district
located on Water Street, had been constructed without any supervision by city or harbour
authorities. No fire-walls were provided under this dock. The fire-protection equipment provided did not function owing to the water being shut off. There is no fire-boat on Burrard
Inlet. The result of this inefficiency was a loss as noted and a conflagration which might easily
have involved the entire Water Street district. At the time of writing the city authorities and
the harbour commissioners are still debating about a fire-boat for Vancouver harbour.
Fire Prevention.—There has been an increase in the activity of the local assistant fire
marshals during the year in the work of inspections and orders for the removal of fire hazards.
Over 60,000 inspections have been made and nearly 7,000 orders issued. In addition to this, the
members of my staff, Mr. Walker and Mr. Oswald, have made over 800 inspections, giving
assistance to the local assistant fire marshals as required. In this connection 121 appeals have
been received and passed on by the Fire Marshal. There were no appeals to the Courts from
his decisions.
Fire Investigation.—The work of fire investigation has been in charge of Mr. W. A. AValker.
During the year he has investigated eighty-nine suspicious fires. Nineteen inquiries have been
held under section 12 of the " Fire Marshal Act," eight persons have been sent up for trial, and
five convictions obtained.
Provincial Government Buildings.—Regular inspection has been made of Government institutions which provide for the care of the aged and sick. The pumper referred to in my last
report has been put into commission at the Colony Farm, Essondale, and a new fire-hall located
at the rear of the new Women's Building has been completed and occupied. Another permanent
man has been added to the fire department. With these improvements we feel that all that is
humanly possible has been done to protect this institution from the danger of fire.
Tranquille.—While conditions from the view-point of fire protection at this institution are
not all as we would like to have them, yet much has been done during the year. The basement
of the main building has been divided by fire-walls and a sprinkler system installed. Standard
fire-doors have been placed to prevent the spread of fire. Plans are being prepared for improving
the water system for better fire protection.
Old Men's Home, Kamloops.—Improvements in fire-escapes for this Institution were made
during the year. While the central portion of the building is far from being fire resistive and
would doubtless burn rapidly, yet we feel that everything possible has been done to provide
adequate fire-exits.    The housekeeping conditions in this institution are excellent.
Private and City Hospitals and Institutions.—In co-operation with the Department of the
Honourable Provincial Secretary, inspection of all private and semi-public hospitals and institutions has been made during the year. The conditions found in these places vary from excellent
to very poor. In many cases buildings entirely unsuited for the purpose intended have been
opened and filled with sick and infirm people before an application is made for inspection and
licence.    This practice should be stopped. The new system of fire districts in charge of sergeants and officers of the Provincial Police
Force covering the unorganized portions of the Province has worked satisfactorily. In organized
municipalities which have been placed under the Provincial Police the officers of this force are
doing excellent work as assistant fire marshals.
There has been a large increase during the past year in the work of inspecting and approving
plans for public buildings. This work covers the proper location and construction of fire-exits
as well as the protection of heating plants. In some cases, however, where plans have not been
submitted, it has been found necessary to order changes after construction has been commenced,
thereby causing additional cost to the builders. This is an unsatisfactory condition and I hope
to submit for your consideration regulations which will remedy it.
In this connection I might be permitted to refer to the new Canadian National Steamship
dock now under construction in Vancouver. Acting under your instructions, I had a conference
with the officials of the engineering department of the railway at Montreal and discussed with
them the best methods of protecting it from fire. The conference was highly satisfactory.
I was asked to confer with Mr. H. A. Dixon, chief engineer of the Western Division, Winnipeg,
in whose office the plans were being prepared. I received the very. finest co-operation from
Mr. Dixon and his engineers and it was agreed that the plans should be submitted to this office
for approval before work commenced. The result of this co-operation has been that the dock
now under construction is admitted by fire-prevention engineers to be one of the best examples
of fire-resistive timber construction on the continent.
Film Exchanges.—Regular inspection of film exchanges, which are governed by regulations
made under the " Fire Marshal Act," has been made during the year. Two hundred and ninety-
eight thousand feet of defective film has been removed from service.
Moving-picture Theatres Act.—Under this Act we have inspected and approved thirty-six
plans, three for new buildings and thirty-three for alterations and improvements in existing
buildings. Two hundred and twenty-nine theatre inspections were made and 106 orders issued
for improvements and changes. Eleven fires occurred in theatres during the year. Seven were
caused by defective film and the balance were due to different causes. One hundred and forty-
seven kinematograph machines have been inspected during the year and repairs ordered on
seventy-three of them. There were ninety-two examinations held for projectionists during the
year.
In closing, I again wish to express my appreciation of the efficient work done by the members
of my staff, to the members of the Provincial and Municipal Police Forces, to the assistant fire
marshals in the various districts, and to yourself for the great personal interest you have shown
and the support given me in carrying out the administration of the Act.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. A. THOMAS,
Fire Marshal. REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 7
TABLE  I.—INSPECTIONS  MADE AND  ORDERS  ISSUED  BY ASSISTANT
FIRE MARSHALS.
Name.
Inspections.
Orders.
City Municipalities  (S3).
Alberni	
Armstrong	
Chilliwack	
Courtenay	
Cranbrook	
Cumberland	
Duncan	
Enderby	
Fernie	
Grand Forks	
Greenwood	
Kamloops	
Kaslo.	
Kelowna	
Ladysmith	
Merritt	
Nanaimo	
Nelson	
New Westminster	
North Vancouver	
Port Alberni	
Port Coquitlam	
Port Moody	
Prince George	
Prince Rupert	
Revelstoke	
Rossland	
Salmon Arm	
Slocan	
Trail	
Vancouver	
Vernon	
Victoria	
Totals	
District Municipalities  (28)
Burnaby  	
Chilliwack	
Coldstream	
Coquitlam	
Delta	
Esquimalt	
Fraser Mills :	
Glenmore	
Kent	
Langley	
Maple Ridge	
Matsqui	
Mission	
North Cowichan	
North Vancouver	
Oak Bay	
Peachland	
Penticton	
Pitt Meadows	
Richmond	
Saanich	
Salmon Arm	
Spallumcheen	
Sumas	
Summerland	
6
2
25
47
2
1,388
52
75
13
72
2
27
1
468
18
35
4
268
10
316
3
12
5
24
12
633
0
1,437
108
1,660
196
1,308
207
106
38
02
2
312
126
478
193
201
15
417
71
24
11
1,819
140
30,523
5,046
9,959
264
57,702
6,547
07
10
94
55
3
170
120
12
21
100
12
40
3
10
38
3 H
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE I.—INSPECTIONS MADE AND ORDERS ISSUED BY ASSISTANT
FIRE MARSHALS—Continued.
Name.
Inspections.
Orders.
District Municipalities—Continued.
151
18
21
2
Totals	
865
237
Village Municipalities (S).
16
1
243
41
11
13
41
8
Totals	
312
62
Fire Districts (12).
43
229
21
490
75
304
95
6
27
of	
19
6
8
Totals	
1,257
66
60,136
6,912
1929                                    	
56,954
43,075
47,221
52,134
6,832
1928                      	
4,938
1927      	
4,437
5,003
1926 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 9
TABLE II.—FIRES REPORTED.
Districts reporting.
Number.
Amount of
Loss.
City Municipalities (S3).
2
1
32
3
20
4
5
3
13
6
1
11
2
19
10
3
83
23
57
36
5
7
8
9
16
6
17
4
21
1,117
9
211
$3,075
80
Armstrong	
61,529
2,720
Cranbrook ; 	
6,543
Cumberland	
180
38,449
1,301
2,752
0,888
2,000
7,197
Kaslo	
1,409
4,760
7,091
4,519
113,329
5,965
15,156
7,148
245
12,370
7,988
6,061
42,424
4,080
8,763
1,543
Trail	
7,525
1,723,002
754
32,420
Totals	
1,764
$2,139,920
District Municipalities  (28).
01
22
18
2
24
1
2
6
9
26
12
7
11
33
44
19
2
12
44
3
2
9
7
51
14
27
$58,505
Chilliwack	
32,699
73,556
Delta	
15,045
3,088
3,981
1,388
Kent	
9,657
15,047
320,088
15,603
3,912
18,450
17,470
Oak Bay .          	
88,222
7,921
7,191
46,967
31,737
1,010
2,794
54,865
5,535
295,983
1,545
3,624
408
$1,135,883 II 10
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE II.—FIRES REPORTED—Continued.
Districts reporting.
Number.
Amount of
Loss.
Tillage Municipalities (S).
Abbotsford	
Burns Lake	
Creston	
Gibsons Landing..
Mission	
Smithers	
Terrace	
Vanderhoof	
Totals....
Fire Districts (12).
Cariboo,  County of	
loco	
Kootenay, County of	
Nanaimo, County of	
Pacific Mills, Limited	
Powell River	
Prince Rupert, County of~
University Area	
Vancouver, County of	
Victoria, County of	
Westminster, County of	
Yale, County of	
Totals	
Grand totals	
6
$5,575
2
180
1
195
4
319
4
10,076
2
108
1
2,068
20
$19,121
47
$120,693
1
15
113
452,977
93
180,318
2
22
5
3,169
49
208,023
11
1,808
20
21,063
35
202,320
8
17,066
76
198,686
460
$1,406,160
2,712
$4,701,090
Note.—Construction of buildings—
Fire-resisting  48, loss $4,740
Brick or concrete  250, „ 729,800
Frame -  2,414, „ 3,966,550
2,712,
$4,701,090 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 11
TABLE III.—CAUSES OF FIRES.
Causes of Fires.
Acetylene explosion	
Alcohol on stove	
Ashes against wood	
Blanket too near fireplace	
Boiler insufficiently protected	
Broken  oil-line	
Brooder insufficiently protected	
Candle carelessness	
Carburettor back-firing	
Car upset	
Children playing with fire	
Clothes too near fireplace	
Clothes too near stove or stove-pipe	
Coal-gas explosion	
Coal-oil  carelessness	
Coat hung too near furnace	
Collision	
Curtains from stove	
Defective battery connection	
Defective brooder	
Defective chimney	
Defective feed-pipe connection	
Defective film	
Defective fireplace ,
Defective furnace or furnace-pipe	
Defective lamp	
Defective matches ;	
Defective motor	
Defective oil-burner	
Defective oil-stove	
Defective  oven	
Defective stove or stove-pipe	
Defective  water-heater	
Defective wiring	
Delco light plant insufficiently protected	
Dutch oven back-firing	
Electrical appliances	
Exposure ,	
Fire-crackers	
Furnace explosion	
Furnace or furnace-pipe insufficiently protected
Gasoline carelessness	
Gasoline explosion	
Gasoline on exhaust-pipe	
Gasoline-torch carelessness	
Gas-plate insufficiently protected	
Grease on stove	
Hot bran ignited bedding	
Hot soldering-iron carelessness	
Incendiary	
Incense-burner upset	
Lamp  explosion ,
Lamp upset	
Lantern upset	
Lightning	
Live coals	
Match carelessness	
Matches, children with	
Matches, mice with	
Mattress too near stove	
Molten metal ignited carpet	
Oil-stove explosion	
Overheating of machinery bearings	
Paper from stove	
Amount of
Loss.
1
?150
1
10
33
32,315
1
10
3
868
1
200
1
101
21
1,829
19
6,491
10
10,057
5
174
1
10
20
4,022
7
3,116
. 3
1,617
1
15
2
1,140
4
223
1
24
3
1,511
125
142,601
1
627
7
4,446
42
19,140
2
438
3
507
7
534
1
100
2
1,787
3
4,320
2
205
34
29,504
1
12
46
59,809
1
6,831
1
34,623
107
25,379
156
282,146
13
204
2
300
17
21,463
23
6,607
3
861
9
5,176
1
169
2
84
20
3,514
1
11
2
28
47
427,556
1
10
1
1,450
7
5,802
2
1,106
8
2,674
28
719
27
3,244
40
13,470
2
45
2
10
1
50
2
107
3
42,223
3
126 H 12
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE III.—CAUSES OF FIRES—Continued.
Causes of Fires.
Number.
Amount of
Loss.
1
2
1
1
90
515
2
6
16
11   "
19
297
3
186
2
5
10
4
31
1
41
5
7
1
115
2
6
1
14
1
346
1
2
1
2
12
2,712
$16
1,444
7
97
145,493
189,595
108
74,774
271,070
12,141
176,527
102,689
504
10,830
69
2,228
7,482
3,097
22,181
12
110,292
15,516
4,982
75
116,820
48
765
5
629
390
2,209,430
526
881
41
2,588
Wood too near stove	
3,837
Totals	
~ $4,701,090 _ REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 13
TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Aeroplane plants	
          1
102
.   .. .    155
Clothes too near stove 	
1
1
1
2
1
r>
0
1
4
1
9
61
8
7
1
5
1
17
10
2
1
1
3
4
0
8
3
1
3
1
46
15
34
1
«>
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
0
4
1
3
1
5
19
1
]
1
$225
Apartments	
$123
597
141
1,947
100
694
84
30
131
23
24
9,499
371
208
5
275
50
Defective matches 	
Defective stove-pipe 	
Electrical  appliances  	
Gas-plate insufficiently protected 	
Live coals 	
Match  carelessness 	
Short  circuit  	
Sparks from chimney 	
Sparks from fireplace 	
Stove or stove-pipe insufficiently protected ...
14,302
$3,491
10,057
1,140
24
627
403
4,195
724
4,497
1,725
75
748
25
16,870
1,225
18,054
0
5
Car upset 	
Defective battery connection	
Defective feed-pipe connection 	
Exposure 	
Gasoline carelessness 	
Gasoline on exhaust-pipe	
Lantern upset 	
Matches, children with 	
Short circuit 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Unknown   	
Defective chimney 	
64,880
$15
8,249
35
30
1,134
•
Sparks from chimney 	
Sparks from forge  	
Spontaneous combustion	
Exposure  '.	
Rubbish too near furnace 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
9,403
$3,040
1,075
2
4,121
$334
0
.    ..      49
340
$720
1,031
2,179
2,525
9,348
14,030
3,585
320
602
25
26,600
30,230
1
1
1
Lantern  upset	
Short circuit  	
Sparks from bonfire  ;	
Sparks from bush fire 	
Sparks from chimney 	
Spontaneous  combustion  	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Spontaneous  combustion	
Gasoline carelessness	
91,930
13
Barracks	
Battery plants 	
267
Blacksmith-shops 	
400 H 14
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND  CAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Boarding-houses
Churches
Clubs
10
Boat-building works   1
Boat-houses     1
Bottling-works   2
Breweries     1
Bunk-houses   4
Canneries     2
Carpenter-shops   1
Chicken-houses   22
Coalyards  	
Cold-storage plants ..
Construction-wagons
Cooperages   	
Dairies   	
Derricks   	
Dry-cleaning establishments
15
Defective chimney 	
Live coals 	
Match carelessness 	
Matches, children with 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Sparks from chimney 	
Sparks from fireplace 	
Unknown   	
Sparks from furnace 	
Sparks from bush fire 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Wood too near stove 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Sparks from chimney 	
Stove-pipe insufficiently protected
Smokers' carelessness 	
Sparks from chimney 	
Gasoline carelessness 	
Ashes against wood 	
Brooder insufficiently protected ....
Defective brooder 	
Defective lamp 	
Defective stove 	
Exposure   	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Stove explosion 	
Stove insufficiently protected 	
Unknown   	
Coal-gas explosion 	
Defective chimney 	
Defective wiring	
Exposure   	
Short  circuit  	
Defective chimney 	
Defective wiring 	
Exposure 	
Oil-stove  explosion 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Sparks from burning rubbish 	
Sparks from chimney 	
Spontaneous combustion 	
Unknown   	
Boiler insufficiently protected 	
Exposure   	
Gasoline carelessness	
Unknown   	
Electrical appliances 	
Boiler insufficiently protected 	
Exposure   	
Gasoline carelessness 	
Gasoline  explosion  	
Static electricity	
Unknown   	
$4,640
57
3
66
92
422
37
6,938
1
87
1
300
1
$35
1
14
49
1
49
1
$100
1
26
y
7,520
7,046
1
$88,107
1
1,111
89,218
4
1
1
$25
1
101
3
1,511
1
57
1
10
1
12
2
42
1
50
4
699
7
19,424
21,931
1
$48
1
3,797
1
2,000
£>
18,761
1
35
24,641
1
$20
1
10
1
94
1
67
5
109
1
10,750
3
1,390
1
492
1
2,500
15,432
50
1
*:>
311
1
550
1
10,018
103
1
1
$352
1
1,273
1,025
■ )
$058
1
82
1
15
1
3 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 15
TABLE  IV.—CLASSIFICATION  OF PROPERTY BURNED  AND  CAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Dwellings    1,62.:
Elevators  (grain)
Alcohol on stove   1
Ashes against wood   25
Blanket too near fireplace   1
Candle carelessness   20
Children playing with fire   5
Clothes too near fireplace   1
Clothes too near stove or stove-pipe   22
Coal-gas explosion   5
Coal-oil carelessness   2
Coat hung too near furnace-  1
Curtains from stove   4
Defective chimney   98
Defective fireplace   30
Defective furnace or furnace-pipe   ' 2
Defective matches   5
Defective stove or stove-pipe   25
Defective water-heater   1
Defective wiring   29
Electrical  appliances    85
Exposure     40
Fire-crackers     11
Furnace explosion   1
Furnace or furnace-pipe insufficiently protected 11
Gasoline carelessness   3
Gasoline-torch carelessness   1
Grease on  stove    13
Hot bran ignited bedding   1
Hot  soldering-iron  carelessness    2
Incendiary    24
Lamp  upset   5
Lightning  -  6
Live coals  -  25
Match carelessness   17
Matches,  children with    25
Matches, mice with  1
Mattress too near stove   2
Molten metal ignited carpet   1
Oil-stove explosion    1
Paper from stove   2
Parcel laid on stove caught fire   1
Rug oyer hot-air register   1
Short  circuit   19
Smokers' carelessness   247
Sparks from bonfire   9
Sparks from burning rubbish   6
Sparks from bush fire   12
Sparks from chimney   252
Sparks from fireplace   175
Sparks from furnace  .  1
Sparks from stove or stove-pipe   25
Spectacles in paper used to light fire   1
Spontaneous combustion    14
Stove explosion   0
Stove or stove-pipe insufficiently protected .... 92
Sun's rays   2
Tar boiling over  5
Tea-cosy laid on stove   1
Thawing pipes   12
Unknown      102
Varnish boiling over    1
Water-jacket explosion   1
Wood too near furnace   2
Wood too near stove   9
Short circuit   1
$10
10,334
10
726
174
10
1,508
3,030
1,167
15
223
77,413
17,332
438
393
23,767
12
40,554
4,785
34,827
178
125
3,601
2,281
109
1,607
11
28
22,503
3,972
395
632
2,357
10,239
30
10
50
40
117
16
7
11,449
47,275
14,017
1,000
8,492
92,273
10,561
1,629
18,312
12
5,115
4,932
97,524
48
713
5
524
201,341
526
41
2,588
3,308
5780,901
503 H 16
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION  OF PROPERTY BURNED  AND  CAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Factories (bed and mattress)
Factories  (box)    - 1
Factories  (can)    1
Factories  (furniture)     3
Factories   (glass)    -  1
Factories  (jam) -  1
Factories   (paper box)     1
Factories (sash and door)  .. 1
Factories    (soap   and   floor-
wax)     1
Fertilizer   plants     1
Fishing-boats     2
Fish-packing plants   1
Fish-salteries     1
Foundries    11
Garages
Gasoline-stations
Gas plants	
Golf club-houses ..
Greenhouses  	
Halls  	
35
Hay-stacks     2
Hop-kilns            1
Hospitals          11
Spontaneous combustion 	
Static electricity	
Unknown   	
Incendiary	
Sparks from furnace	
Unknown   	
Electrical  appliances  	
Unknown   	
Short  circuit 	
Unknown   	
Grease on stove 	
Unknown   	
Stove insufficiently protected 	
Unknown   	
Incendiary   	
Ashes against wood 	
Defective oven 	
Defective wiring 	
Furnace-pipe insufficiently protected
Sparks from chimney 	
Sparks from forge 	
Sparks from furnace 	
Spontaneous  combustion  	
Unknown   	
Defective chimney 	
Defective oil-burner 	
Defective wiring 	
Exposure   	
Gasoline carelessness 	
Incendiary   	
Lamp explosion 	
Matches,  children with 	
Short circuit 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Spontaneous  combustion 	
Stove insufficiently protected 	
Unknown	
Unknown   „.	
Defective lamp 	
Defective chimney 	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Unknown   	
Sawdust too near burner	
Wood too near stove	
Defective  fireplace   	
Furnace-pipe insufficiently protected
.Matches, mice with 	
Smokers' carelessness	
Spontaneous  combustion  	
Unknown   	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Unknown   	
Unknown   	
Coal-gas explosion 	
Defective   fireplace   	
Incendiary   	
1
$128
1
13,099
$13,S27
1
1,067
1
529
1
$350
o
32,738
33,094
1
93
1
13,738
1
00,808
1
150
1
10
1
30,000
ft
670
1
3,800
1
14,000
1
$190
2
205
1
9,210
1
75
1
49
1
39
1
131
1
50
2
1,600
11,549
2
$75
1
135
1
350
3
14,150
3
1,145
1
11,989
1
1,450
1
110
5
2,550
6
1,290
1
286
1
25
9
31,980
65,541
6,184
1
1
350
1
$0,044
1
25
1
40
6,109
1
$97
1
145
242
2
$848
1
17,470
1
15
1
575
1
6,191
-)
10,050
35,149
1
$400
1
750
1,150
1
45,410
1
$38
1
178
1
6,500 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 17
TABLE  IV.—CLASSIFICATION  OF PROPERTY  BURNED  AND  PAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Hotels
83
House-boats   ....
Launches   	
Laundries  	
Lime plants ....
Logging camps
Lumber-yards   &
Machine-shops     1
Mining property   1
Offices     21
Paper-mills   1
Photographic  studios   1
Planing-mills     1
Pole camp's   4
Pool-rooms    1
Power-houses    1
Printing-offices     3
Railway-stations    3
Restaurants     17
Smokers' carelessness   2
Sparks from chimney   4
Sparks from fireplace   1
Spontaneous  combustion     1
Defective   chimney     3
Defective stove-pipe   1
Delco light plant insufficiently protected   1
Exposure     5
Gasoline carelessness   1
Smokers' carelessness   58
Sparks from chimney  1
Sparks from fireplace   1
Spontaneous  combustion    1
Stove-pipe insufficiently protected   1
Unknown     10
Unknown     1
Carburettor back-firing   2
Exposure     1
Unknown     2
Defective wiring   2
Water in lime   2
Defective stove-pipe    1
Sparks from bush fire   2
Sparks from engine    1
Sparks from slash fire   2
Unknown     1
Smokers' carelessness   1
Unknown     2
Lamp upset   '.  1
Smokers' carelessness   1
Defective  fireplace     2
Defective   oil-stove    1
Electrical  appliances ,  2
Exposure     T
Match carelessness   1
Short  circuit '-  1
Smokers' carelessness  3
Spontaneous combustion   1
Stove-pipe insufficiently protected   2
Unknown       1
Unknown     1
Exposure  1
Overheating of machinery bearings   1
Incendiary     2
Smokers' carelessness   1
Unknown      1
Exposure     1
Incendiary     1
Defective oil-burner    1
Smokers' carelessness   2
Exposure     1
Smokers' carelessness   1
Unknown     1
Defective chimney  1
Defective oil-stove   1
Defective stove   2
$34
1,636
16
71
$33,435
1,000
0,831
1,037
80
0,032
2,234
8
731
5,198
134,149
$3,000
87
0,044
$714
36,278
325
1,251
38,080
$25
69,946
$757
113
37
4,757
3
195
151
650
890
3,060
$8,037
4,725
4,195
$1,652
161
$2,490
25
$45
300
151
3,473
191,335
31S
9,731
206
881
76,648
69,971
30
93
10,013
o
11,283
15
16,957
11,005
200
1,813
2,540 H 18
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE  IV.—CLASSIFICATION  OF PROPERTY  BURNED  AND  CAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Road-houses  	
Rooming-houses
Round-houses
Sawmills 	
Schools
Sheds
Shingle-mills
40
14
2C>
Exposure     2
Grease on stove   2
Smokers' carelessness   1
Sparks from chimney   3
Stove insufficiently protected   3
Thawing pipes   1
Unknown     1
Smokers' carelessness  1
Ashes against wood   1
Defective   chimney     1
Defective   fireplace     1
Electrical appliances    1
Exposure     1
Gasoline carelessness   1
Gasoline  explosion    .1
Incense-burner upset  ,  1
Match carelessness   1
Matches,  children with    2
Smokers' carelessness   26
Sparks from chimney   4
Stove insufficiently protected   2
Unknown     8
Sparks from  engine   1
Boiler insufficiently protected   1
Dutch oven back-firing   1
Gasoline explosion  -  1
Incendiary     4
Short circuit  2
Smokers' carelessness   1
Sparks from boiler  4
Sparks from bush fire   1
Sparks from mill burner   7
Sparks from slash fire   2
Spontaneous  combustion    2
Unknown    —  14
Defective  chimney  2
Exposure     1
Furnace insufficiently protected  1
Incendiary     2
Matches,  children  with  1
Smokers' carelessness  :  2
Sparks from chimney  1
Sparks from stove  1
Unknown  3
Ashes against wood  1  3
Defective  lamp  1
Lightning  1
Matches,  children  with  3
Short circuit  —. 1
Smokers' carelessness  3
Sparks from bonfire   1
Sparks from chimney   1
Sparks from engine  1
Sparks from mill burner   1
Spontaneous  combustion     2
Tar boiling over  1
Unknown  7
Overheating of machinery bearings   1
Sparks from boiler   2
$184
1,428
72
50
455
15
6,000
$596
134
25
132
4,100
116
15
10
2
16
1,886
621
64
3,931
34,623
704
243,988
1,133
1,597
09,948
130,795
3,138
1,846
9,051
410,068
$151
2,928
212
3,735
40
503
249
1,500
2,203
$55
100
100
150
5,739
304
200
5
10
5
312
52
2,911
$42,000
4,820
1,700
309
11,648
169
907,417
11,581
9,949 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 19
TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION  OF PROPERTY BURNED AND  CAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Ships          1
Skating-rinks    1
Smelting plants        13
Stables            4
Stone-cutting plants   1
Stores        112
Stores and apartments
Stores and dwellings
11
36
Sparks from mill burner   2
Spontaneous  combustion    2
Unknown     1
Sparks from acetylene-torch   1
Furnace explosion  1
Broken oil-line   1
Defective   chimney     1
Defective wiring   2
Furnace insufficiently protected   1
Short circuit    5
Sparks from furnace   1
Spontaneous combustion    2
Lamp upset    1
Smokers' carelessness   1
Sparks from bonfire   1
Sparks from chimney   1
Unknown     1
Ashes against wood   2
Clothes too near stove  2
Defective chimney   3
Defective oil-stove   1
Defective stove-pipe   1
Electrical   appliances    8
Exposure     29
Fire-crackers     1
Furnace insufficiently protected   1
Gasoline carelessness   2
Grease on stove  4
Incendiary     2
Matches,  children with   2
Short  circuit   ,  4
Smokers' carelessness   21
Sparks from burning rubbish   2
Sparks from chimney   3
Sparks from stove   2
Spontaneous  combustion    1
Static electricity   2
Stove-lid dropped on floor  ,  1
Thawing pipes   1
Turpentine ignited from furnace   1
Unknown  16
Clothes too near stove       '   1
Defective wiring  1
Paper from stove   1
Rubbish too near furnace   1
Smokers' carelessness   5
Unknown     2
Defective chimney   6
Defective stove-pipe   1
Electrical   appliances    ■ 1
Exposure     S
Furnace-pipe insufficiently protected   1
Gasoline carelessness   1
Smokers' carelessness   3
Sparks from chimney   6
Sparks from stove  1
Spontaneous combustion    1
Unknown  7
$4,339
57,891
3,053
$200
50
100
• 50
920
25
150
$1,800
500
175
280
$21,115
2,320
1,113
3,907
2,483
267
101,286
8
50
599
463
4,108
276
34,576
1,742
37
44
984
19
54
75
90
390
190,298
$11
3,551
9
369
185
10,474
$12,048
1,700
15
38,176
5
17
472
1,777
130
125
30,101
$112,109
56
175
1,495
2,755
1,198
306,304
14,599
84,560 II 20
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE  IV.—CLASSIFICATION  OF PROPERTY  BURNED  AND  CAUSES—Continued.
Property.
Causes.
Amount of Loss.
Stores and hotels
Stores and offices
Stores, offices, and rooms
Stores and rooms 	
Street-cars
Theatres  ...
Tug-boats
Undertaking-parlours
Warehouses
17
4
35
11
24
Welding-shops     1
Wharves           3
Wood-working plants          2
Totals 2,712
Electrical  appliances  	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Unknown   	
Defective  stove  	
Electrical  appliances  	
Exposure   	
Fire-crackers  	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Sparks from acetylene-torch 	
Spontaneous  combustion  	
Unknown	
Exposure   	
Defective wiring 	
Electrical  appliances  	
Exposure	
Gasoline  carelessness 	
Incendiary	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Sparks from chimney 	
Unknown   	
Wood too near stove 	
Defective wiring 	
Defective  film	
Defective motor 	
Exposure   	
Smokers' carelessness 	
Unknown   	
Coal-oil carelessness 	
Defective wiring 	
Gasoline on exhaust-pipe 	
Unknown   	
Defective chimney  	
Defective stove-pipe 	
Candle  carelessness   	
Defective chimney 	
Electrical  appliances  	
Exposure	
Incendiary	
Overheating of machinery bearings
Short  circuit —	
Sparks from bonfire 	
Sparks from stove	
Static electricity 	
Unknown   	
Acetylene  explosion   	
Exposure   	
Unknown   	
Sparks from burning rubbish 	
Sparks from chimney 	
1
$00
1
64
1
25,500
$25,024
1
$1,199
1
52
3
250
1
18
0
1,279
1
52
1
738
3
13,876
17,464
4
590
1
$99
1
10
8
2,290
1
33
3
17,081
10
4,202
2
49
2
28,554
1
310
52,694
353
9
7
$4,440
1
100
1
307
1
1,102
1
208
6,223
1
$450
1
2,953
1
679
1
186
4,208
1
$5
1
33
1
$1,103
1
3,039
3
19,725
8
13,396
1
92,441
1
208
1
1,283
1
253,087
1
1,250
1
1,748
5
26,347
413,627
1
150
Q
$1,022
1
731,900
732,928
1
$25
1
42
2,712
$4,701,090 	
REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1930.
H 21
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BRITISH COLUMBIA.
TABLE VI.—LOSS OF LIFE, 1926-30.
Occupancy.
Cause of Fire.
Loss of Life.
Adults.     Children.
Dwelling	
Dwelling	
Dwelling	
Dwelling	
Dwelling	
Dwelling	
Offices	
Shingle-mill	
Shingle-mill	
Store and rooms	
Totals, 1930..
Totals,  1929..
Totals,  1928..
Totals, 1927..
Totals,  1920..
Defective stove	
Electrical appliances	
Incendiary	
Matches, child with	
Unknown	
Unknown	
Unknown	
Overheating of machinery bearings..
Sparks from burner	
Unknown	
2
1
1
1
1
~8~
5
10
4
10
VICTORIA,   B.C. :
Printed by Charles F. Banfield, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
1931.
825-031-5033