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 ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
FIRE
MARSHAL
FOR
1970
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
Hon. L. R. Peterson, Q.C. Henry K. Jenns
Attorney-General of British Columbia Fire Marshal of British Columbia
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
  To Colonel the Honourable John R. Nicholson, P.C, O.B.E., Q.C., LL.D.,
Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia.
May it please Your Honour:
The undersigned has the honour to present the Forty-ninth Annual Report of the
Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31, 1970.
L. R. PETERSON
A ttorney-General
Victoria, British Columbia, January 1972.
  TABLE OF CONTENTS
Report of Fire Marshal-
Table I—Fire Investigations, Fire Crime Statistics.
Page
_    7
. 10
Table II—Inspections Made and Orders Issued by Local Assistants to the Fire
Marshal  11
Table III—Fires Reported, Construction of Buildings Burned.
Table IV—Causes of Fires	
Table V—Classification of Property Burned and Causes..
Table VI—Summary	
Table VII—Ten-year Comparative Statement of Fire Losses.
Table VIII—Loss of Life, 1961-70	
13
15
17
35
36
37
Table IX—Twenty-year Fire Loss (Graph)  38
  REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL
Office of the Fire Marshal,
Vancouver, British Columbia, December 17, 1971.
The Honourable Leslie R. Peterson, Q.C.,
Attorney-General, Victoria, British Columbia.
Sir: I beg to submit the Forty-ninth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the
year ended December 31, 1970. During the year there were 7,546 fires, a decrease from 7,602 fires in 1969. The fire loss totalled $34,561,074, as compared
to the loss in 1969 of $27,514,446. There was an increase in the number of deaths
to 104 in 71 fires—32 men, 28 women, and 44 children. It remains that smokers'
carelessness is the largest single cause of these deaths.
Fire Advisory Service
Continuing our policy of providing fire-protection information, I am pleased
to report that fire-survey reports were completed and forwarded to the following
regional districts: Fraser-Fort George Regional District, Regional District of Central Okanagan, and Manning Park service area for Department of Recreation and
Conservation.
The regional districts are becoming extremely conscious of the need of increased fire inspectional services, particularly in the unorganized areas, and as a
result we have received a number of requests for the establishment of district offices.
Plans to provide the facilities and service are presently undergoing a feasibility study.
The certification and acceptance programme for automobile fire-fighting apparatus continues to provide an important service to municipalities who require this
service in the purchase of automobile fire apparatus.
Pursuant to the Fire Marshal Act, our Staff Inspectors made 587 (915) inspections and the Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal made 81,056 (77,927)
inspections. To assist in comparison, the previous year's totals are given in parentheses. Arising out of these inspections, 92 (197) Fire Marshal orders were issued
and four (three) appeals to the Fire Marshal were heard and determined.
British Columbia Emergency Fire Defence Plan
Extremely close liaison continues to be carried out with the Canadian Forces
in maintaining this Emergency Fire Defence Plan and, to provide more practical
assistance to the municipalities, a fire pumper has been assigned and located in five
of the six zones of the Province under the care of the Fire Service Officer, Zone.
We administer the fire pumpers assigned to the Vancouver Zone. All fire pumpers
are used primarily for training purposes and are available for emergencies.
Fire Investigation Service
This year, 240 (303) fires were investigated by Staff Inspectors and a total of
547 (514) fires were investigated throughout the Province, resulting in 152 (113)
charges being laid, with results as shown in Table I. One Fire Marshal inquiry was
held. The collection and reporting of fire-crime information to the Dominion
Bureau of Statistics is the responsibility of this office, and the returns for the year
are also included in Table I.
7
 R 8
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Fire Service Training
Our travelling instructional units conducted courses in fire-fighting at 140 (71)
fire departments and trained a total of 1,893 (1,054) fire-fighters. Specialized
courses in marine fire-fighting, conducted in conjunction with the Department of
Education, were again very well received. These marine courses are conducted
at the Vancouver Wireless Station, Canadian Forces Base, Ladner, and it appears
that the Canadian Forces will be vacating these premises with the property reverting,
in part at least, to the Department of Transport, so that we may have to acquire a
suitable lease to enable us to continue occupancy. This matter, too, is being investigated at this time as it is most desirable to continue with this service, particularly
since the Department of Transport is considering our marine fire-fighting course as
a mandatory requirement for the certification of certain marine personnel. In
co-operation with the Department of Indian Affairs, a refresher fire-safety course
for fishermen was again held at Terrace. One orientation course for Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal was held. Twenty municipalities (33) were represented
by 22 (47) persons.
Public Information Services
The distribution of technical and public fire-safety information occupied a
prominent role in our public service. Our membership in international, national,
provincial, and local advisory and enforcement agencies provided us with current
fire-safety information and requirements.
Public information services were maintained through the medium of our Film
Library, directives, displays, and lectures. The introduction of a bulletin File for
Reference has been very well received. Through this medium we are able to communicate with all Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal and other persons interested
in fire safety. Three bulletins were issued in 1970 and are now issued on a
monthly basis.
Public Safety
We continue very active in the matter of public safety. This year, 1,955
(1,925) plans and specifications were received and processed.
We attended two compressed-gas emergencies involving four railway tank-cars
at which we were able to ignite and flare off the products successfully, thereby
enabling the right-of-way to be cleared and made usable with a minimum of delay.
This activity results from a policy established with the carriers and the Railways
Explosives Inspector.
In addition to the issuance of innumerable compressed-gas installation permits
for domestic use, our office issued 5,789 (4,085) Fire Marshal approval labels for
mobile homes, trailers, and campers. The processing, testing, and inspection of
these vehicles has required the full-time service of one of our Inspectors, together
with assistance from the whole inspectional staff. Through our efforts, most trailer
manufacturers have installed permanent testing facilities for piping and fittings. The
problem encountered in respect to piping and fittings results from the very nature
of the vehicles in that they are mobile and no doubt travel over some extremely rough
road. The operators are not fire-safety conscious and at times travel with some
appliances being fired, contrary to the regulation, thereby creating undue hazard to
themselves. The enforcement is extremely difficult, if not impossible; however, we
have had preliminary talks with the Superintendent of Motor-vehicles and it may
be possible that we can incorporate a compressed-gas and other flammable liquid
(tank trucks) inspection service at the Motor-vehicle Testing Station.   The Super-
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970 R 9
intendent of Motor-vehicles has been extremely helpful in assisting in the formulation of future policy in this matter.
Moving-picture projectionist examinations held pursuant to the Fire Marshal
Act and regulations were attended by 26 (21) applicants and, as a result, 10 (10)
first class, 5 (10) second class, and 3 (1) third class projectionist licences were
issued.
Members of the staff were active in reviewing our regulations, and the groundwork for changes which were made in 1971 were laid in 1970. As you are aware,
changes in regulations entail a good deal of research before the changes can be made.
During the year, Mr. Basil Nixon, after serving as Fire Marshal from 1955,
retired, and his retirement was honoured by a reception given by the Government of
British Columbia.
During 1970 we were pleased to have a special guest, C.F.O. K. Holland,
M.I., FireE., President of the Institution of Fire Engineers. C.F.O. K. Holland is
from West Riding, England, and during his stay spoke to the British Columbia Fire
Chiefs Association and officiated at the British Columbia Branch of the Institution
of Fire Engineers annual meeting held in Vancouver and Burnaby.
Statistical information is given each year to the Dominion Fire Commissioner,
Fire Marshals, and Fire Commissioners across Canada and the United States;
insurance companies; adjusters; and libraries; to Local Assistants to the Fire
Marshal and others. For tabulating purposes, detailed records of all large-loss and
multiple-death fires are sent to the National Fire Protection Association for inclusion
in fire-loss surveys.
I would like to thank the members of the various fire and police departments,
the British Columbia Research Council, the National Harbours Board, Civil Defence Organization, and my own staff for excellent co-operation during the portion
of the year when I was Acting Fire Marshal. I would also like to thank members
of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, especially those who are Local Assistants
to the Fire Marshal, other Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal, the insurance companies and their adjusters, for co-operation given throughout the year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
HENRY K. JENNS
Fire Marshal
 R 10
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE I—FIRES INVESTIGATED
Totals
A. Total number of fires investigated throughout the Province  547
B. Fires investigated by the office of the Fire Marshal—
Accident or negligence  89
Incendiary   137
Unknown   14
C. Charges laid throughout the Province—    Adults
Number of persons charged     90
Number of charges laid  124
Arson      65
Setting fire to other substance     10
Other offences
Disposition of charges-
Convicted 	
Dismissed 	
Withdrawn 	
Stay of proceedings	
Committed to institution.
Pending 	
49
45
15
7
6
5
46
Juveniles
22
28
16
9
3
13
1
2
240
112
152
D. Fire crime statistics—The following record is compiled by the Fire Marshal
Office for the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and represents all fire crime investigations throughout the Province:
Suspected
or
Known
Incendiary
Unfounded
Actual
Number
Offences Cleared
Persons Charged
Offence
By
Charge
Otherwise
Adult
Juvenile
M
F
M
F
Arson and attempted arson __
470
122
348
68
27
75
15
21
1
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
R 11
TABLE II—INSPECTIONS MADE AND ORDERS ISSUED BY
LOCAL ASSISTANTS TO THE FIRE MARSHAL
City Municipalities (31)
Districts Reporting
Inspections
Orders
Districts Reporting
Inspections
Orders
14
1,298
107
745
1,307
86
95
103
4
2
3
21
4
3
6,990
2,894
1,716
421
699
284
1,684
45
179
221
18,461
1,013
10,408
356
1
4
1
1
Kamloops _ 	
Kelowna	
915
1,504
676
Trail	
Vancouver - -	
~4
Langley 	
Victoria 	
White Rock     	
11
1,485
942
Totals	
54,648
59
District Municipalities (40)
5,774
442
38
425
22
63
1,054
416
38
20
1
~ 2
1,307
2,391
299
381
487
56
9
26
45
39     '
6,095     I
657
539
4
Oak Bay	
Port Hardy 	
Delta
11
Esquimalt-	
5
Gold River	
Salmon Arm. _	
Spall umcheen _
Houston	
	
Kent
269
28
51
239
1
Langley- _   	
Sumas	
Surrey   	
2
1
16
310
Totals.-	
21,536
27
Town Municipalities (13)
	
	
Ladysmith _
Merritt -	
61
63
2
Fort St. John 	
371
Sidney  —
Smithers 	
	
24
53
149
Kinnaird 	
Totals	
721
2
 R 12
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE II—INSPECTIONS MADE AND ORDERS ISSUED BY
LOCAL ASSISTANTS TO THE FIRE MARSHAL—Continued
Village Municipalities (55)
Districts Reporting
Inspections
Orders
Districts Reporting
Inspections
Orders
88
__
1
Oliver 	
100 Mile House..
Alert Bay                           	
22
14
22
Osoyoos 	
939
5
Port McNeill-	
9
Princeton , 	
99
Salmo	
74
Sechelt  ______ 	
2
6
10
Tahsis   __
8
2
	
Teikwa — -	
Lumby	
Ucluelet   	
Valemount	
Valleyview  -
Vanderhoof-   —-	
Warfield  	
Masset..	
Midway  	
	
39
13
24
Nakusp 	
Zeballos - -	
Totals-	
1,374
4
Fire Districts (16)
Cariboo, County of	
Colwood 	
loco 	
Kelowna regulated- -i~
Kootenay, County of	
Langford	
Nanaimo, County of	
Ocean Falls  —
Prince Rupert, County of.
51
426
96
431
1
Sooke     __
University Endowment Lands
Vancouver, County of	
Victoria, County of 	
View Royal ___ ___.
Westminster, County of_  _
Yale, County of _.
Totals ___	
4
998
17
120
1
613
2,777,
Inspections Orders
Grand totals, 1970  -  81,056 92
Grand totals, 1969    - -_ 77,927 197
Grand totals, 1968 — _ -   92,074 172
Grand totals, 1967     - 85,969 529
Grand totals, 1966 - _ -  84,874 603
Grand totals, 1965 ___. -    83,678 178
Grand totals, 1964 __    82,758 151
Grand totals, 1963.  -   -  92,088 100
Grand totals, 1962 __ - -  88,441 192
Grand totals, 1961  =  93,826 196
J
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
TABLE III—FIRES REPORTED
City Municipalities (31)
R 13
Districts Reporting
Number
Amount
of Loss
Districts Reporting
Number
Amount
of Loss
Armstrong.
Chilliwack-
Courtenay—
Cranbrook-
Dawson Creek-
Duncan 	
Enderby 	
Fernie	
Grand Forks.
Greenwood	
Kamloops	
Kelowna	
Kimberley	
Langley-	
Nanaimo	
Nelson 	
3
22
15
24
33
22
2
8
10
3
97
50
25
9
74
12
6,325
40,521
14,014
87,627
94,877
44,738
5,893
13,417
93,040
163
170,721
273,678
23,708
4,381
129,333
59,533
New Westminster-
North Vancouver.
Penticton-. _	
Port Alberni	
Port Coquitlam-—
Port Moody	
Prince George	
Prince Rupert-	
Revelstoke-	
Rossland— 	
Trail 	
Vancouver-	
Vernon	
Victoria	
White Rock	
Totals—-
178
110
71
95
61
35
190
57
22
8
58
1,710
29
299
20
417,570
156,266
166,485
82,972
103,400
124,404
689,624
179,836
7,779
51,607
123,983
5,400,019
26,794
821,183
115,761
3,352
9,529,652
District Municipalities (40)
364
67
26
85
15
89
94
50
5
5
3
16
18
53
12
93
40
22
35
8
$
975,671
122,789
13,331
677,157
72,510
149,518
958,098
37,466
7,431
26,748
7,900
26,998
66,387
224,534
154,609
209,867
236,896
159,868
187,705
36,012
175
52
2
20
2
2
28
159
218
29
6
4
8
4
18
5
386
39
105
$
395,496
Oak Bay   .                         	
43,919
Peachland- -	
1,388
52,273
6,160
Port Hardy   .                           _.
232
Delta 	
67,941
612,228
237,871
Gold River-  	
271,031
20,884
Hudson's Hope	
Kent	
Kitimat _	
Sparwood -	
Squamish.  	
Stewart 	
6,780
42,070
4,950
136,893
46,754
Maple Ridge   	
M atsqui   	
Surrey 	
Terrace	
2,007,328
156,184
259,752
Totals
2,362
8,721,629
Town Municipalities (13)
Castlegar	
Comox	
Creston 	
Fort St. John
Golden	
Hope	
Kinnaird	
16
30
$
9,223
15,087
339,474
15,697
9,088
2,071
Ladysmith..
Merritt	
Quesnel	
Sidney-
Smithers	
Williams Lake..
Totals..
12
13
16
8
11
40
168
$
5,924
51,349
68,964
9,054
91,929
370,818
988,678
 R 14
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE III—FIRES REPORTED—Continued
Village Municipalities (55)
Districts Reporting
Number
Amount
of Loss
Districts Reporting
Number
Amount
of Loss
8
2
11
6
5
3
3
1
2
2
1
3
5
$
84,464
2,072
45,936
11,996
12,086
671
15,503
5,000
490
1,517
125,000
283
429
6
3
5
10
	
3
	
1
3
3
4
9
1
3
	
5
2
5
2
6
3
1
7
5
5
	
$
10,720
100 Mile House
23,666
2,174
20,252
16,462
Chetwynd , —
Port McNeill  	
1,100
Princeton..— 	
575
21,286
6,050
29,182
300
Sechelt _ _	
Silverton  	
Slocan    _-. 	
905
1,845
16,263
30,038
94,645
176
85,352
3,500
651
3,930
83
1,709
14,000
1
3
7
5
1
7
1
3
3
2
2
1
14,380
Tahsis   	
222,183
Taylor      	
29,593
9,000
41,793
Lytton _ -	
436
4,624
Valleyeview	
2,119
11,712
Warfield                            	
3,800
180
1,029,951
Fire Districts (16)
Cariboo, County of~
C olwo o d	
loco..
Kelowna regulated	
Kootenay, County of~
Langford--
Nanaimo, County of-
Ocean Falls	
Prince Rupert, County of-
Sooke	
$
375
3,145,474
20
20,864
164
1,255,281
20
56,830
205
966,813
9
6,370
142
1,342,583
6
23,423
University Endowment Lands._
Vancouver, County of 	
Victoria, County of	
View Royal-
Westminster, County of-
Yale, County of	
Totals-
Grand totals..
27
77
43
13
67
316
1,484
$
21,446
585,730
216,827
15,426
4,470,372
2,163,725
14,291,164
7,546    |   34,561,074
Construction of Buildings Burned
Number
Amount
of Loss
Number
Amount
of Loss
Fire resistive—
City municipalities-
District municipalities-
Town municipalities	
Village municipalities—
Fire districts—	
Brick, concrete, or heavy timber—
City municipalities
District municipalities-
Town municipalities	
Village municipalities...
Fire districts	
44
2
393
67
6
7
17
$
58,759
20,787
34,489
2,950,707
280,071
34,909
244,039
513,595
Wood frame—
City municipalities	
District municipalities.
Town municipalities	
Village municipalities...
Fire districts.. 	
Metal or corrugated iron-
City municipalities-	
District municipalities-
Town municipalities	
Village municipalities.-
Fire districts. 	
2,072
1,617
122
140
934
843
676
40
33
525
Totals-
7,546
6,083,827
7,600,114
921,938
750,694
7,915,352
436,359
820,657
31,831
35,218
5,827,728
34,561,074
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
TABLE IV—CAUSES OF FIRES
R 15
Causes of Fires
Number
Amount of
Loss
Total
Number
Total
Amount of
Loss
$
1
2
96
5
27
101
34
27
156
75
2
441
16
4
317
193
123
43
54
32
63
30
390
80
51
467
426
47
8
$
955
31,150
71,904
42,644
37,402
Chimney—
Defective or overheated - — -
64
37
242,116
185,757
427,873
127,024
40,416
81,027
310,962
Dust explosion— - -	
Electrical wiring and equipment, improper use of appliance
495
1,085,310
72,054
45,565
Engine backfiring -	
259,029
494,167
Fireplace—■
Defective  	
27
96
26,592
169,572
196,164
69,430
Friction—
18
4
22
2
8
89,973
3,176
89,954
107,203
14,930
Furnace or furnace-pipes—
Combustible materials too near  - 	
305,236
15
8
6
3
104,170
29,994
21,694
1,416
157,274
Gas, liquefied petroleum—
19
5
39
398,655
13,563
108,714
520,932
Gas, natural—
8
1
21
43,681
800
24,189
68,670
Gasoline—•
145
41
57
4
42
10
4
87
151,785
67,212
111,486
1,540
104,525
16,865
12,998
371,627
On exhaust pipe.         ._
Used in cleaning  	
838,038
111,859
125,707
851,401
1,716,223
Heat radiation 	
Hot ashes, coals, etc_        .
Hot grease, oil, far, etc., ignition of                                      ,  ....
Incendiary.. - - 	
Inflammable vapours, ignition of 	
352,763
Kerosene—
1
6
1
3,372
8,696
450
12,518
 R 16
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE IV—CAUSES OF FIRES—Continued
Causes of Fires
Number
Amount of
Loss
Total
Number
Total
Amount of
Loss
$
9
340
11
26
181
69
628
1,471
86
18
8
13
18
47
6
347
2
11
944
$
43,183
Matches—
31
309
24,565
528,973
553,538
21,243
148,028
Oil-burner—
9
110
37
18
7
39,509
488,129
117,263
169,137
30,478
844,516
Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, etc—
8
4
57
2,421
15,900
3,918,923
Improper use of	
3,937,244
1,631,715
Smokers' carelessness—
304
736
219
184
28
319,361
978,320
60,718
961,323
72,910
2,392,632
229,026
414,104
37,047
378,914
429,584
425,220
29,226
Steam or other pipes insufficiently protected  	
Stove or stove-pipes—■
242
13
1
80
11
399,295
129,400
350
330,928
24,617
Defective    	
884,590
2,040
43 706
Unknown
13,661,326
Totals
7,546
34,561,074
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970
R 17
TABLE V—-CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
1
372
2
1
4
6
2
78
Aeroplane crash — 	
1
6
I
14
s
1
1
1
5
1
1
3
48
25
3
2
14
4
2
12
44
103
10
9
1
1
15
2
35
1
1
1
3
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
3
1
5
1
8
2
1
4
1
1
7
35
$
15,452
25
25,945
11,671
500
10,985
75
3,662
4,671
33
49,673
60,812
43,318
19,876
736
7,307
4,846
760
25,402
80,855
173,085
16,826
18,557
1,331
2,837
9,845
116,570
310,537
$
955
Apartments  -	
Furnace, combustible material too near 	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or de-
Gasoline—
Carelessness with 	
Stove, lamp, torch   —- —
Vapour explosion 	
Matches—
Carelessness with  	
Oil-burner—
Smokers' carelessness—
Spontaneous ignition — —	
Stove and stove-pipes—
Combustible material too near —- —	
Defective oil-burner  	
1,016,192
Asphalt plants and tanks
3,902
4,000
Hot grease, ignition of — — -	
Exposure        	
7,902
36,739
55,000
1,300
Barber   shops   and   beauty
parlours    	
Electrical appliance and equipment  	
56,300
100
12,708
1,719
Gasoline-vapour explosion  	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting	
14,527
785
Barges and scows 	
735
50
Barns and stables  	
750
23,000
825
16,463
7,266
3,950
22,408
14,325
1,250
29,820
7,000
1,800
10,601
7,000
28,399
29,743
541,883
Electrical appliance and equipment  	
Matches—
Short circuit   —	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises  __	
746,483
 R 18
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Barracks  	
Boarding-houses
Boat-building works
Boathouses    	
Bottling-works  - 1
Bowling alleys     2
Brewery      1
Bridges    ._ 3
Buildings under construction     24
Bunkhouses    - _     16
Bus depots „— - 2
Canneries (fruit)     2
Chemical plant —-   1
Churches and church property     19
Smoker's carelessness in public premises  _       1
Electrical appliance and equipment
Heat radiation 	
Incendiary 	
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed 	
In the home —	
In public premises
Electrical appliance and equipment .
Children playing with fire .
Electrical appliance and equipment ._	
Short circuit — -	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises
Incendiary
Exposure -
Unknown   .
Sparks from grinder .
Incendiary —-	
Unknown  	
Candle and open flame .
Defective fireplace —	
Defective oil-burner 	
Electrical appliance and equipment 	
Electro-welding equipment   —-	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment  - —	
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch 	
Incendiary
Furnace, combustible material too near
Gasoline used to kindle fire 	
Incendiary  	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of —	
Oil-burner—
Defective   —-  	
Defective equipment
Stoves, combustible material too near
Thawing pipes   	
Unknown     	
Spontaneous ignition
Unknown    	
Short circuit
Inflammable vapour, ignition of - -	
Matches, children with	
Short circuit   -  	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises  	
Sparks from bonfire -      2
Sparks from oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment      2
Unknown     —       4
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment   _____   _        1
Smoker's carelessness in public premises —       1
Candle and open flame   _____  1
Children playing with fire -    1
Defective oil-burner    2
Electrical appliance and equipment   2
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment         1
Incendiary  ___   6
Smoker's carelessness in public premises    1
Sparks from bush fire   _  1
Spontaneous ignition       1
Unknown      _. 3
504
330
10,020
593
2,416
25
19,143
6,100
8,370
25
4,205
60,000
100
25,000
411,687
100
125
6,717
200
1,000
317
45
13,833
100,000
1,919
2,906
692
5,217
92,641
578,065
1,100
3,250
11,524
4,800
14,335
1,637
228
3,500
34,424
50
100
201,368
57,460
26
2,000
437
538
5,000
33,187
1,300
1,000
25,000
87,316
24,557
13,888
225
33,638
19,000
64,205
100
436,687
803,777
74,798
150
258,828
50
155,804
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970
R 19
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Clubs
10
etc.)     12
3
        1
73
14
JO
29
32
320
8
1
48
24
96
23
11
4
2
1
5
1
15
$
350
11,263
50
177,959
7
$
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equip-
Smokers' carelessness in public premises	
Chimney, sparks from - -   ~	
189,629
Clubhouses (golf, yacht,
990
1,725
23
2,800
3,180
5,705
Smokers' carelessness in public premises  	
14,423
Coal and lumber yards
100
239,669
Unknown   - -	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises —	
Short circuit  —- — 	
Sparks from electro-welding equipment  —
239,769
150
2,000
34,065
63,469
3
       9
Chimney—
99,534
Cookhouses  	
20,805
20,000
25
118,837
55,765
1,800
6,800
6,312
2
        1
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or de-
Stove and stove-pipes—
Unknown   —- —- - 	
Friction in tires    _	
230,344
Cranes  	
40
2,000
2,040
26,000
Dairy    _	
3,838
669
19,885
3,088
435
Dehydrating plant -
       1
5,123
Distillery	
1
6
 3,099
3,936
Dry-cleaning plants
Electrical appliance and equipment 	
Short circuit —-   	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises 	
27,915
Dwellings  	
40,238
5,000
10,725
178,772
131,385
164,481
487,887
51,051
385
41,759
24,922
169,572
40,634
55,536
28,394
13,369
29
73,400
1,200
32,186
Chimney—
Defective or overheated  —- —	
Defective wiring -  	
Electrical appliance and equipment  	
Electrical wiring overloaded   	
Engine backfiring  - 	
Fireplace—■
Defective  	
Fireworks    _ —	
Furnace or furnace pipes—
Combustible materials too near	
Defective  	
Gas, liquefied petroleum—
 R 20
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Gas, natural—
6
13
$
29,224
8,283
25
17,036
20,334
10,640
9,748
32,583
42,549
28,688
332,293
372,405
46,696
1,409
450
768
21,844
405,041
491
7,724
171,050
95,414
24,698
2,870
867
2,240
402,297
164,039
745,861
64
9,480
46,984
71,310
51,932
29,604
347
250,352
43,164
350
167,275
16,954
28,303
1,930,668
$
Gasoline—
1
___...    15
22
6
______      3
Used in cleaning   	
     13
    40
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of   -
Incendiary   - —
Inflammable vapours, ignition of   —	
Kerosene—
Stove, lamp, torch   —
32
348
86
23
3
______      1
3
20
157
__     4
5
62
--   27
Matches—
Oil-burner—
Broken line     	
9
2
Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment—
Defective      —  	
2
3
— 129
Smokers' carelessness—
113
573
2
In public premises    	
14
9
     23
-       4
-—    13
2
176
       9
Steam-pipes insufficiently protected   —
Stove or stove-pipes—
Combustible material too near   __	
1
54
       9
Insufficiently protected   	
7
Unknown     	
297
7
7,195,279
Electric-light plants —- -        8
3,329
858
1,700
12,400
1,141
3
1
Electric-light  and telephone
19,428
85
8,100
535
1,559
100
11,680
2
2
1
1
1
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of   -
Short circuit  _  	
1
3
1
1
1
22,059
32,050
Electrical substations        4
5,000
27,050
8,464
64
310
8,838
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
R 21
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Engines 	
2
1
1
1
5
1
10
1
2
4
3
1
5
23
3
2
56
Gasoline, carelessness with  	
1
       1
$
60
495
$
Factories—
1
555
200
365
45
4,803
1
400
       1
592
....      2
1
2
Smoker's carelessness in public premises 	
       1
5,213
300
1,000
1,000
625
150
7,195
5,200
100
116,724
150
100
Industrial equipment
Friction in machinery 	
1
1
rks
2
1
1
1
Oxy-gas   welding   or   cutting   equipment,   spa
Smoker's carelessness in public premises 	
1
....      2
Paint   _ _ _
Inflammable vapour, ignition of	
1
1
131,994
5,100
Sparks from grinder   	
Children playing with fire    -
Incendiary - -	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of  	
Short circuit  - - ..._.  ..
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch .  -	
Unknown - 	
Hot ashes, coals, etc.   -	
Friction in conveyer belt  - 	
Friction in machinery  —- —
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
-      1
       1
250
42,658
381,117
685
Plastic products   _
60
200
27,035
15,363
Sash and door 	
200
380,917
Sausage	
Veneer and plywood
15
5,000
200
6,892
2
2
1
12,107
900
30
50
436
165
300
24
527
1
8
Smokers' carelessness in public premises 	
3
2
1
5
1
1
1
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of -	
Stove, combustible material too near  -	
2,432
Fertilizer plants  	
50
25
5,039
Electrical appliance and equipment  	
Unknown   _ —-  	
1
1
1
1
1
5,114
16,805
Fire and police stations ...
10
16,795
1,000
5,000
35
31,000
29,350
4,000
90,463
200
63,848
4,817
25,000
215
26,190
5
4
1
Gasoline—
Vapour explosion - — — 	
15
1
Oil-burner—
3
1
1
Short circuit   - 	
3
1
 R 22
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Gaols and industrial institutions  —   —
Garages—
Private -
15
Public
35
Sparks from electro-welding equipment
Spontaneous ignition 	
Steam-pipes insufficiently protected 	
Stove and stove-pipes—
Combustible materials too near 	
Insufficiently protected   —
Unknown     -	
Furnace or furnace-pipes—
Insufficiently protected
Sparks from
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment __  	
Gas, natural, explosion   	
Heat radiation   	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of —  	
Defective wiring 	
Incendiary   - 	
Smokers' carelessness—
In the home 	
In public premises 	
Candle and open flame	
Children playing with fire
Chimney defective  	
Defective oil-burner  	
Electric appliance and equipment
Exposure —-  	
Fireworks      	
Gas, natural, improper installation of appliance .
Gasoline—
Carelessness with   — - 	
Vapour explosion           4
Hot ashes, coals, etc.
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of .
Matches, children with  	
Short circuit    	
Smokers' carelessness—
In the home  —- 	
In public premises  	
Sparks from bonfire 	
Spontaneous ignition  	
Unknown     -	
Electrical appliance and equipment         2
Exposure     _
Friction in machinery
Gasoline—
Stove, lamp,  torch _
Vapour explosion 	
Incendiary   __ __	
Oil-burner—
Defective     	
Defective equipment     	
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment-
Defective       —	
Improper use of    	
Sparks from       	
Short circuit  _   -  	
Smokers' carelessness in public premises
Sparks from grinder —   __	
Stove, combustible material too near __	
Unknown    ____ ___	
Gasoline station (self-serve)       1    Unknown
3,000
3,000
28.100
1,380
7,700
111,636
25
1,087
607
957
2,303
100
32,000
74,013
2
236
150
1,565
1,200
75
1,397
16,749
635
800
190
19,065
1,527
20,945
2,447
21,608
9,309
1,700
3,321
11,186
278
47,619
225
16,464
988
9,250
36,050
30,758
77,481
35
204
12,000
4,925
16,916
9,165
1,168
500
121,293
435,934
5,079
106,251
161,766
337,422
300
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970
R 23
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Gasoline stations  (service)..     26
Grandstand    	
Gravel pit and plant
Greenhouses  _	
Halls          17
Haystacks and balers
Hospitals,    institutions    and
nursing-homes         86
Hospitals   (animal)
Hotels	
131
Defective oil burner
Defective   wiring   	
Exposure
Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion
Gasoline—
Broken   line	
Carelessness with  	
Pump damaged by motor-vehicle .
Vapour  explosion	
Incendiary	
Kerosene,  carelessness with  	
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment _
Short circuit _.. 	
Smokers' carelessness in public premises
Spontaneous  ignition    	
Unknown   _ _ _.
Incendiary      	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment        	
Defective  oil-burner    .—
Matches,  children with
$
1
45,550
1
20,000
1
2,500
1
35,000
1
100
1
1,000
3
1,380
4
97,822
2
220
1
3,372
2
19,420
1
2,369
?,
215
1
405
4
48,197
1
1
1
1
Smokers' carelessness in public premises        1
Stove, combustible material too near        1
Unknown    __         1
Chemical explosion 	
Defective or overheated chimney .
Electrical wiring  overloaded  .__
Hot ashes, coals, etc „.
Incendiary
Smokers' carelessness in public premises
Unknown  _„ _ _	
Incendiary    ._	
Spontaneous   ignition
Unknown  ____	
Candle and open flame — -         1
Electrical appliance and equipment       4
Gas,   liquefied   petroleum,   improper   use   of   or
defective  equipment    -	
Heat radiation — 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of  __	
Incendiary
1
1
2
6
1
3
2
54
In public premises  _ -      7
Sparks from chimney   -        1
Spontaneous  ignition    .„       1
Stove, combustible material too near        2
Inflammable vapour, ignition of
Matches,   carelessness   with   	
Short circuit —	
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed  	
Defective  oil-burner   -
Electrical appliance and equipment
Defective or overheated chimney _
Defective fireplace  	
Defective  oil-burner   	
Electrical appliance and equipment   1
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment       1
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch     2
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of    9
Incendiary  -— -  12
Short circuit    _  2
1,528
25
10
50
14,113
358
6,800
1,099
130
14,150
18,016
83,298
300
400
200
100
335
1,101
169
1,548
27,178
185
140
1,200
1,639
5,436
100
7,266
95
600
958
371
571
420
144
1,000
1,326
83,783
3,440
261
277,550
2,700
8,722
15,726
123,851
900
46,492
1,558
 R 24
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
J
2
1
58
14
1
8
3
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed    .....
In the home   - - — 	
48
14
16
11
17
6
8
1
$
7,273
5,679
123,085
470
10,200
52,428
12,000
740
1,330,947
$
Stove  insufficiently  protected  — 	
Smoker's carelessness in bed  -  	
1,634,138
5,212
Houseboat   	
1,000
150
arch)   	
small craft,
outboards,
Oil-burner, defective equipment  	
1,150
50
Laboratory   (rese
Launches (other
cabin  cruisers,
etc.)
2,500
500
10,938
9,000
1,000
20,000
12,000
3,300
3,600
40,000
59,724
10,000
9,950
452
1,567
7,000
3,000
2,000
3,075
165
2,000
50
300
50,346
Defective   oxy-gas   welding   and   cutting   equip-
Gas, liquefied petroleum—
Improper use of or defective equipment 	
Gasoline—
Inflammable vaoour, ignition of —- 	
Kerosene stove, lamp, torch  	
Oil-burner—
Defective       —-	
Short circuit —   -	
Sparks   from   bonfire   - —
Stove or stove-pipes—
Electrical  appliance  and  equipment  	
Gas, liquefied petroleum—
Improper installation of appliance  	
Improper use of or defective equipment
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equip-
252,467
Laundries  —
1,405
363
37
40
100
1,175
3,120
3,386
Lime  plant   	
10,288
107,003
21,248
1,149
73,058
1,700
888
50
200
1,000
Friction in  pulley   —-	
Sparks from mill burner   -	
Stove or stove-pipes—
Machine-shops __
215,334
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equip-
1,250
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
R 25
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Defective wiring __   	
1
1
1
a                           l
l
l
l
2
1
1
1
.     2
2
1
6
9
2
1
1
9
9
2
25
19
133
21
10
250
35
1
13
4
6
98
7
34
1
2
11
7
3
57
1
3
9
9
1
8
279
2
199
139
$
94
150
40,488
$
94
Metal salvage plants     „            2
Unknown             	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion 	
40,638
Mines and mining properties      3
100,000
10,000
3,500,000
Sparks from oxy-gas welding-cutting equipment-
3,610,000
83
150
17,877
778
30,000
821
77
1,053
100
152,420
4,934
3,642
239
20,000
5,529
472,664
Defective wiring „   	
Furnace, combustible material too near _	
Gas, liquefied petroleum—
Explosion  	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of             	
Short circuit     	
Smokers' carelessness—
In public premises  	
Sparks from bonfire    	
Stoves, combustible material too near 	
Candle and open flame 	
Collision    _ 	
710,367
Motor-vehicles (* 1,905)—
Automobiles (passenger)—1,394
245
27,456
4,601
60,291
7,831
3,387
96,865
27,304
65
8,652
1,400
4,890
50,053
6,405
13,915
50
850
5,733
1,787
6,445
44,817
500
475
1,215
13,413
400
7,110
115,225
135
52,816
1,300
115
400
600
100
114,588
Defective carburettor 	
Defective wiring   __	
Electrical appliance and equipment  	
Engine backfiring _ _	
Exposure    	
Fireworks  	
Friction in brake drum 	
Friction in machinery 	
Friction in tires _	
Gasoline—■
Broken line   	
On exhaust pipe   	
Used in cleaning     	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of  	
Matches—
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment—
Improper use of	
Short circuit  _	
Smokers' carelessness—
:
In motor-vehicle     -
Sparks from engine 	
■
Stove, combustible material too near	
L^nknown     	
681,434
 R 26
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Motor vehicles—Continued
Buses
8
23
33
109
Defective carburettor
Engine backfiring	
Short circuit . 	
Smoker's carelessness in
Stove, combustible matei
Unknown  	
1
1
3
1
$
100
750
709
100
300
100
$
ial too near	
1
1
1
2,059
1,683
5,000
400
2,205
3,400
600
7,600
2,558
500
596
143
1,766
6,766
Exposure 	
1
Gas, liquefied petroleum
Explosion  	
Improper use of or de
Gasoline—
1
1
1
Stove, lamp, torch
Vapour explosion
Heat radiation 	
1
1
-   -      5
r
Matches, children with
Short circuit 	
1
1
Smoker's carelessness in
the home 	
       1
Stove, combustible material too near 	
Unknown _	
.     2
6
1
33,217
200
10
1,040
2,120
1,170
550
250
3,000
160
175
1,300
Defective carburettor
Engine backfiring     	
Gasoline—
Rrnken line
1
7
8
On exhaust pipe	
Vapour explosion    -
3
4
2
Motor-vehicle upset
Sparks from bonfire	
Sparks from bush fire
  	
2
....     2
Unknown 	
2
Defective battery connection 	
      2
9,975
Tractors (bulldozers, grad-
5,351
2,134
16,121
1,775
4,233
29,514
1,465
33,125
2,105
47,775
10,585
5,157
32,088
7,560
3,000
44,275
70,889
50
19,777
6,297
500
181,142
3
7
Exposure   _   	
3
Friction in machinery
Gasoline—
2
9
6
On exhaust pipe	
5
Vapour explosion
2
10
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc.
Incendiary  _ 	
Lightning —_ 	
Motor-vehicle upset
Oxy-gas welding and cut
Improper use of —	
Sparks from     	
Short circuit	
Smoker's carelessness in
2
ting equipment—
1
1
2
a                           l
4
19
1
5
2
Sparks from engine
Unknown 	
1
21
524,918
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
R 27
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Motor vehicles—ConHnHerf
Trailers and semitrailers...
21
Trucks
Mushroom-houses
Offices
317
55
Collision 	
Defective oil-burner
Exposure
Friction in brake drum .
Heat radiation  ____.
Incendiary
Matches, children with .
Motor-vehicle upset —
Short circuit	
Smoker's carelessness in motor-vehicle
Sparks from bonfire 	
Unknown	
Candle and open flame .
Collision  ___ _ __..
Defective battery connection
Defective carburettor	
Defective wiring 	
Dust explosion
Electrical appliance and equipment
Engine backfiring  	
Exposure
Friction in brake drum .
Friction in machinery
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment    	
Gasoline—■
Broken line   	
Carelessness with   	
On exhaust pipe —
Stove, lamp, torch	
Used in cleaning	
Vapour explosion  	
Heat radiation     	
Hot ashes, coals, etc — 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc.,
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of .
Matches, children with 	
Motor-vehicle upset
   19
   14
  1
  1
   8
      4
ignition of  6
   17
—   1
  7
  11
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment—
Improper use of ._ — 	
Sparks   from      --
Short circuit .—   —
. 1
2
. 68
a 15
In public premises     2
Sparks from bonfire      3
Sparks from bush fire     2
Sparks from engine  1
Unknown     42
Smokers' carelessness-
In motor-vehicle 	
Electrical wiring overloaded
Defective oil-burner 	
Short circuit	
Defective or overheated chimney
Defective wiring   	
Electrical appliance and equipment
Exposure
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment — 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc.,
Incendiary  	
ignition of      1
     16
87,000
4,100
714
80,282
147
400
125
75,000
3,515
700
1,075
2,494
255,552
250
11,368
2,464
14,309
807
195
1,805
60,153
27,015
1,039
5,070
4,725
31,423
21,000
23,276
260
375
12,771
2,430
2,010
16,317
27,055
1,603
10,660
49,055
500
250
69,317
6,988
300
3,703
4,725
300
96,889
510,407
=(•2,017,562)
100
300
4,700
5,100
250
100
15,140
1,600
19,000
3,000
53,999
 R 28
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—-Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
5
1
11
2
3
2
9
1
3
10
6
9
11
Oil-burner—
4
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
3
$
4,500
605
11,704
12,464
50
150
21,213
150,253
$
Smokers' carelessness in public premises  	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equip-
Stove, combustible material too near  —
294,028
11,500
20,000
500
250
10
Engine backfiring  	
Gasoline-vapour explosion   	
Stove, combustible material too near 	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or de-
32,260
12,500
Oil or gas well ■	
1,800
120
1,250
200
12,465
19,268
Friction in machinery _	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion — 	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equip-
Stove, combustible material too near  _
35,103
Peat plants
34,395
1,450
35,845
Piggeries ._
2,000
54,053
3,350
59,403
Pipe-lines (natural gas)
13,500
126,439
Unknown  ____	
139,939
Playground facilities    ..
5
5
1,315
150
2,886
Gasoline-vapour explosion	
1
Smokers' carelessness in public premises	
4,361
84,966
Poolroom
2,500
10
300
Post offices
Electrical appliance and equipment  	
2,810
Poultrv houses
240
800
100
1,182
61,280
•.
Sparks from oil-burner     	
63,602
Powerhouses 	
102,350
38,787
Unknown  , __
Electrical appliance and equipment 	
141,137
Printing plants	
347
41,301
10,579
1,125
1,270
395
■■■■
•
Smokers' carelessness in public premises  	
Unknown    	
Electrical appliance and equipment 	
Incendiary   __	
55,017
Pumps and pump-houses	
1,877
60
660
4,800
263
10
44,392
■
Stove, combustible material too near __ 	
.aaa  aaa   -.                                 ..           -      .
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
R 29
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
.Amount of Loss
Radio stations
Railroad rolling-stock
13
Restaurants
56
Rink-
Curling 	
Ice-skating
Rooming-houses
61
Sawmills
73
Short circuit
Unknown	
Chemical explosion
Incendiary   	
Short circuit
Smokers' carelessness in public premises  .       4
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment   	
Sulphur, ignition of     -	
Unknown   .	
Defective furnace _ 	
Electrical appliance and equipment	
Exposure        	
Fireworks 	
Furnace, combustible material too near
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment   - I	
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment    — 	
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of .
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of  _—       1
Matches, children with 	
Short circuit     	
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed   L	
In public premises     	
Unknown    -	
Smokers' carelessness in public premises
Smokers' carelessness in public premises .
Stove, combustible material too near	
Unkn o wn   J	
Candle and open flame   	
Defective or overheated chimney 	
Electrical appliance and equipment
Heat radiation ... „ _ 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of .
Incendiary
Matches, children with .
Short circuit 	
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed 	
In the home 	
In public premises .
While intoxicated .
Stove, combustible material too near .
Unkn own    	
Defective furnace -   1
Defective or overheated boiler or pipes   2
Electrical appliance and equipment  5
  1
  2
„:  2
_i  1
  1
  1
  1
-L  l
Exposure
Friction in conveyer belt .
Friction in machinery .
Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion .
Gasoline used in cleaning 	
Heat radiation  	
Lightning  	
Molten metal   	
Oil-burner—
Explosion   	
Sparks from	
21,100
32,581
1
36,000
1
3,250
1
25,000
4
2,800
1
1,000
1
2,020
4
10,310
1
350
1
8,000
1
14,000
1
50
1
46,256
2
3,979
1
35
1
6,751
17
98,683
10
203,712
1
33,730
1
300
1
1,112
1
45
4
1,318
12
167,384
1
1
27,610
1
401
1
284,210
2
14,000
1
200
2
90
1
300
1
3,569
6
39,645
1
9,340
1
500
19
2,975
12
9,755
2
165
1
70
4
1,561
8
26,036
i.ooo
31,150
216,748
1,575
3,146
57,500
88,935
5,000
200
1,173
18,117
120,110
786
53,681
80,380
585,705
37,089
312,221
108,206
 R 30
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Schools and colleges .
81
Sheds
163
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment—
Defective 	
Sparks from -  	
Short circuit —- -	
a l
9
a 4
. 1
1
1
.     2
Sparks from mill burner _.        13
Unknown       20
Sparks from bonfire 	
Sparks from chimney  _.
Sparks from electro-welding equipment .
Sparks from grinder
Chemical explosion .
Defective wiring .
Electrical appliance and equipment       3
Fireworks   — —  	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment  	
Gasoline-vapour explosion 	
Hot ashes, coals, etc -	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of        3
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of .
Matches—
Carelessness with 	
Children with  	
Molten metal — —
Short circuit   	
Smokers' carelessness in public premises .
Sparks from bonfire
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment 	
Spontaneous   ignition
Steam-pipes  insufficiently protected
Stove—
Combustible material too near —
Insufficiently protected —	
Unknown  - 	
Candle and open flame 	
Children playing with fire 	
Defective or overheated chimney
Defective  oil-burner  	
Defective   wiring    	
Electrical appliance  and equipment  	
Exposure   	
Fireworks   —
Gas,   liquefied  petroleum,   improper  installation
of  appliance     -
Gasoline—
Carelessness   with    	
Vapour   explosion   	
Hot ashes, coals,  etc — — 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of	
Incendiary   	
Matches,  children with   	
Short circuit 	
Smokers' carelessness—
In the home	
In  public premises    	
Sparks from bonfire  	
Sparks  from  engine
Sparks from mill burner  _ _	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment      	
Spontaneous   ignition     —
Stove or stove-pipes—■
Combustible material too near 	
Defective   	
Insufficiently   protected    	
Sparks from — 	
Unknown  	
$
200
30,077
76,921
25
1,090
7,500
33,613
424,872
1,129,888
1
1,286
2
10,050
3
1,085
1
75
2
5,800
1
50
?
191
3
3,405
27
72,212
1
178
1
70
5
260
1
1,000
3
4,425
11
162,204
1
100
1
200
2
35
1
629
1
300
1
800
10
705,960
3
314
2
1,254
2
31,899
1
9,107
1
2,150
3
4,700
4
24,087
6
3,128
1
4,500
2
11,000
1
1,200
1
900
1
100
18
23,272
26
25,196
1
1,652
1
670
5
6,273
13
11,644
1
6,447
3
2,963
2
4,600
4
3,573
1
2,220
1
378
3
1,884
1
863
55
77,893
2,249,626
970,315
263,867
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970
R 31
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Sheet-metal works
Shingle-mills
Ships
Shipyard _ —
Smelting plants
Smoke-houses
Steam baths
Stoneworks
Stores 	
1
127
Electrical appliance and equipment
Incendiary   	
Unknown  	
Exposure   	
Sparks from engine 	
Sparks from grinder   	
Spontaneous   ignition     	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of 	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting
ment     	
Sulphur,  ignition  of   	
equip-
Stove, combustible material too near
Defective or overheated chimney —	
Defective furnace   	
Defective   wiring
Dust explosion         1
Electrical appliance and equipment 	
Friction in conveyer belt  	
Friction in machinery   	
Heat  radiation    	
Hot ashes, coals, etc
Molten metal 	
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment—
Defective    — 	
Sparks  from   —
Short circuit   	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises
Spontaneous   ignition     —
Electrical appliance and equipment „
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of
Stove insufficiently protected 	
Unknown    	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of
Stove insufficiently protected 	
Unknown    	
Short circuit  	
Children  playing  with  fire
Defective  oil-burner  	
Defective   wiring
Electrical appliance and equipment .
Electrical  wiring  overloaded  	
Exposure   	
Fireworks 	
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment           a- -
Hot ashes, coals, etc 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of 	
Incendiary   	
Inflammable vapour, ignition of 	
Matches,  children with   -	
Short circuit __ 	
Smokers' carelessness—
In the home   	
In public premises  	
Sparks from bonfire   	
Spontaneous   ignition    	
Stove and stove-pipes—
Combustible material too near 	
Insufficiently protected	
Unknown  	
1
1
4
2
1
4
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
3
2
1
1
3
2
5
1
11
3
1
1
3
26
1
4
6
1
24
4
1
4
1
24
110
1,189
42,858
36,074
17,000
286,424
18,878
75,000
3,500
20
200
400
175
300
1,000
15
1,500
320
20
635
500
300
1,060
50
10
1,364
1,156
1,626
3,861
26,991
350
2,126
75
1,556
5,016
9,464
7,600
24,757
748
447
37,588
9,714
276,027
75
1,171
137,640
16
270,335
9,842
55
60,922
350
1,108,245
44,157
358,376
78,520
150
6,485
8,007
29,467
15,568
1,961,643
 R 32
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Stores and apartments _
Stores  and  dwellings
Stores and offices
Stores and rooms
Swimming-pool
Tanneries ____
Tar pots
Telephone exchange and
booth — - -
37
20
15
Candle and open flame
Defective   fireplace   	
Defective   wiring
Electrical appliance and equipment
Exposure    _ 	
Friction in pulley
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of
Incendiary
Kerosene stove, lamp, torch
Matches,  children with  	
Oil-burner—
Defective   	
Explosion
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed .___ 	
In the home 	
In public premises 	
While intoxicated
Stove, combustible material too near
Unknown    	
Defective or overheated chimney 	
Electrical appliance and equipment
Electrical wiring overloaded 	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion
Hot ashes, coals, etc 	
Incendiary        	
Matches,  carelessness with  	
Oil-burner, defective equipment
Sparks from bonfire
Stove or stove-pipes—
Combustible material too near
Insufficiently   protected   	
Unknown     _	
Chimney—■
Defective  or  overheated
Sparks from	
Defective   wiring   	
Exposure   	
Incendiary
Short  circuit  	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises  1
Sparks from bonfire      1
Unknown    6
Candle and open flame 	
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch
Incendiary   	
Smokers' carelessness—
In bed  	
In the home _ 	
Stove, combustible material too near
Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment     1
Electrical appliance and equipment  —  1
Smoker's carelessness in public premises   1
Unknown    1
Gas,   liquefied petroleum,   improper  use  of  or
defective  equipment    L  1
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of   2
Incendiary    _   1
Electrical appliance and equipment
300
974
160
315
74,947
200
59,790
12,000
5
20
1,300
2,600
4,170
9,215
22,192
9,298
3,329
1,168
800
9,580
9,000
1,153
20,100
4,265
2,300
50
250
50
461
7,266
190,858
5,000
400
16,223
3,790
870
12,000
9,409
9,087
96,413
10
25
25
15,075
792
12,007
9,284
64,500
64
46
200
953
1,000
202,783
245,333
153,192
27,934
64,610
2,153
650
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1970
R 33
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Tents
Theatres
Trailers—
Mobile  homes
Travel
14
149
Trash barrels
Trees and shrubs .
16
29
Candle and open flame	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper installation of
appliance   	
Gasoline stove, lamp, torch
Smoker's carelessness in the home
Sparks from bonfire   	
Sparks from bush fire   	
Unknown  	
Exposure     	
Incendiary       	
Short circuit  :
Smoker's carelessness in public premises	
Candle and open flame 	
Children playing with fire 	
Defective or overheated chimney
Defective   wiring
Electrical appliance and equipment
Exposure   	
Friction in tires  :	
Furnace insufficiently protected
Gas, liquefied petroleum—
Explosion
Improper use of or defective equipment      5
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of       8
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of
Matches,  children with  	
Oil burner—
Broken line   _	
Defective   _ 	
Defective equipment
Explosion 	
Sparks from	
Short circuit	
Smokers' carelessness—■
In bed 	
In the home 	
While intoxicated  	
Sparks from bonfire 	
Stove or stove-pipes—
Combustible material too near
Defective   	
Insufficiently protected
Thawing  pipes  	
Unknown   	
Gas, liquefied petroleum-
Explosion
Improper installation of appliance 	
Improper use of or defective equipment
Short circuit 	
Unknown  	
Incendiary   — 	
Matches, children with   	
Smokers' carelessness in public premises .
Spontaneous ignition  	
Unknown  —- 	
Children playing with fire
Exposure   	
Fireworks 	
Heat radiation _   	
Incendiary    	
Matches, children with 	
Smoker's carelessness in public premises .
Unknown   	
14
700
2,182
2,150
109
1,088
3,787
3,090
295
600
300
700
1,335
3,231
14,225
102,053
5,650
10,000
8,300
20,700
2,176
39,471
7,500
1,298
4,675
24,285
47,133
15,060
12,399
490
45,337
1,566
9,657
3,500
10,800
25,276
1,500
12,957
11,163
97,819
10,000
6,800
50
1,823
600
300
220
428
100
145
275
100
687
100
90
1,376
1,105
532
10,030
4,285
540,256
19,273
1,193
4,265
 R 34
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED
AND CAUSES—Continued
Property
Causes
Amount of Loss
Trestles
Tugboats
Warehouses
Welding-machines
Welding-shops	
Wharves	
Woodworking plants
Workshops	
38
39
Totals
-.7,546
Incendiary
Unknown  .
Engine backfiring 	
Exposure   	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc.,
Short circuit	
ignition of
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment   	
Unknown   	
Children playing with fire
Exposure   	
Gasoline—
Pump damaged by motor-vehicle
Stove,  lamp,  torch    	
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of
Matches, children with 	
Oil-burner explosion 	
Short circuit  — 	
Smokers' carelessness in public premises
Sparks from bush fire 	
Sparks from grinder   _
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment    _   	
Spontaneous   ignition   	
Unknown    	
Gasoline, broken line
Short  circuit   	
Exposure       	
Gasoline, carelessness with
Short circuit 	
Sparks from oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment   	
Matches, children with
Unknown   	
Sparks from bush fire
Sparks from grinder 	
Unknown    	
Chimney—
Defective  or  overheated
Sparks  from
Electrical appliance and equipment
Exposure
Gasoline, carelessness with 	
Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of
Incendiary
Inflammable vapour, ignition of .
Kerosene stove, lamp, torch	
Oil-burner—
Defective     	
Explosion
Oxy-gas welding and cutting equipment-
Defective 	
Sparks  from   	
Short circuit    	
Smokers' carelessness-
In the home	
In public premises .
Sparks from bonfire
Sparks from grinder
Spontaneous ignition
Stove, combustible material too near
Unknown   	
-7,546
$
40,500
25,000
60
30,000
2,000
76,000
200
15,000
195
7,364
160
50
44,045
150
1,210
4,500
5,000
4,405
188,000
49,963
187,838
47,032
1,009,995
500
1,325
27,000
500
135
250
400
219,277
132,500
200
8,481
6,000
3,393
25,046
2,750
881
3,139
6,750
5,494
5,700
4,239
2,500
150
9,450
2,000
175
8,121
9,200
1,650
200
311
361,205
65,500
123,260
1,549,907
1,825
27,885
219,677
141,181
458,354
34,561,074
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970
TABLE VI—SUMMARY
Fires Reported
R 35
City
Municipalities (31)
District
Municipalities (40)
Town
Municipalities (13)
Village
Municipalities (55)
Fire
Districts
(16)
Totals
1970
289
257
321
280
311
319
269
276
241
261
251
277
223
160
209
194
222
198
195
192
176
217
169
207
22
18
9
17
11
10
13
13
14
16
17
18
16
21
14
10
13
19
12
12
15
12
18
133
94
126
122
112
127
159
143
107
128
119
114
685
February 	
545
686
627
May	
June	
July	
666
667
655
August	
636
550
October	
November  	
December	
629
567
633
Totals	
3,352
2,362
168
180
1,484
7,546
Amount of Loss
1970
January	
February-
March	
April	
May	
June	
July	
August	
September-
October	
November,.
December—
Totals-
572,542
612,562
1,348,040
639,856
1,020,981
719,108
537,370
659,445
366,280
682,332
1,000,280
1,370,856
9,529,652
$
558,996
243,801
613,871
652,031
900,325
1,110,700
477,828
780,085
359,344
1,329,063
890,050
805,535
£,721,629
55,253
17,299
4,800
39,371
11,575
12,298
16,680
216,394
95,797
79,342
95,802
344,067
988,678
$
301,723
99,466
80,320
47,656
3,184
231,756
34,057
44,124
22,471
17,556
108,348
39,290
1,029,951
1,109,706
574,528
883,811
688,130
858,395
784,601
912,755
4,772,580
722,655
854,071
1,089,655
1,040,277
14,291,164
$
2,598,220
1,547,656
2,930,842
2,067,044
2,794,460
2,858,463
1,978,690
6,472,628
1,566,547
2,962,364
3,184,135
3,600,025
34,561,074
 R 36
BRITISH COLUMBIA
TABLE VII—TEN-YEAR COMPARATIVE STATEMENT
OF FIRE LOSSES
Year
City Municipalities
District Municipalities
Town Municipalities
Fires
Losses
Fires
Losses
Fires
Losses
1970	
3.352
$
9.529.652
2,362
$
8,721,629
168
141
173
154
144
109
.71
61
79
74
$
988,678
1969                              	
3.463             8.466.521
2.524
6.924.503
694,863
1968 	
1967- -
1966
3,081
3,264
3,350
3,351
3,366
3,233
3,570
3,788
6,899,093
7,327,896
10,340,128
4,756,985
4,204,463
4,343,193
3,966,380
5,775,054
2,301  i        4,296,276
2,129           5,307,350
2,026 j        3,173,114
2,080 |       2,855,954
2,166           3,325,408
2,113            3,214,«37
2,270           2,275,737
2,386 |       2,312,942
763,822
558,875
554,895
1965
342,522
1964   -	
242,674
1963                -	
1962
339,654
61,020
1961                                   	
91,151
Totals          	
33,818 j      65,609,365
22,357 |      42,407,750
1
1,174
4,638,154
Year
Village Municipalities
Fire Districts
Totals
Fires
Losses
Fires
Losses
Fires
Losses
1970       —
1969.  - — ——  -—
1968 -	
1967   	
1966
180
170
178
161
187
184
$
1,029,951
703,746
1,455,474
1,619,445
912,541
878.033
1,484
1,304
1,277
1,226
1,196
1,253
1,270
1,262
$
14,291,164
10,724,813
7,702,306
6,676,487
8,164,901
5,304,290
6,382,406
5,260,743
7,546
7,602
7,010
6,934
6,903
6,977 |
7,118
6,915
7,612
7,849
$
34,561,074
27,514,446
21,116,971
21,490,053
23,145,579
1965      .              	
14,137,784
1964                                         	
245  1             830.912
14,985,863
1963
246
261
292
634,304
720,592
816,261
13,792,731
1962     -      	
1961	
1,432
1,309
7,323,141
4,499,526
14,346,870
13,494,934
Totals      .  	
2.104  :         9.601.259
13,013
76,329,777
72,466
198,586,305
 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL,  1970
TABLE VIII—LOSS OF LIFE, 1961-70
R 37
Occupancy
Number
of
Fires
Causes of Fires
Loss of Life
Men      Women Children    Total
ApartmentS-
Bunkhouse-
Dwellings—
Fishing-boats..
Hay stack-
Hospital	
Hotels	
Motor-vehicles-
Outdoors..
Rooming-houses..
Stores _ 	
Tent	
Trailer (mobile home).
Totals, 1970	
Totals, 1969	
Totals, 1968	
Totals, 1967	
Totals, 1966-	
Totals, 1965-	
Totals, 1964	
Totals, 1963	
Totals, 1962.	
Totals, 1961	
Ten-year totals.
11
1
40
71
74
81
78
58
71
51
54
69
60
Smokers' carelessness (9) —
In bed (1) _ 	
In the home (7)	
While intoxicated (1)  _	
Stove or stove-pipes, combustibles too
near (1)	
Unknown (1)  	
Smoker's carelessness while intoxicated
(1)	
Child playing with fire (1)	
Defective   electrical   appliance   and
equipment (2)	
Gas, liquefied petroleum explosion (1) —
Gasoline used to kindle fire (1)	
Hot ashes (2)	
Hot grease, oil, tar (1)  	
Matches, children with (7)	
Smokers' carelessness (12) —
In bed (5)  	
In the home (5)	
While intoxicated (2) 	
Stove or stove-pipes (9) —
Combustible materials too near (5)	
Defective (1)  	
Insufficiently protected (2) 	
Sparks from (1)	
Thawing pipes (1) 	
Unknown (3 ) 	
Gasoline-vapour explosion (1) 	
Smoker's carelessness while intoxicated
(1)   	
Spontaneous ignition (1)	
Matches, carelessness with (1)	
Smokers' carelessness (2)—
In bed (2)  	
Unknown (1)	
Collision (3)  _ -
Gas, liquefied petroleum explosion (1) —
Unknown (1)  - 	
Sparks from bonfire (1)	
Candle (1) -  - —
Smokers' carelessness (2) —
In bed (1)_ 	
In the home (1) 	
Stove   or  stove-pipes,   combustibles  too
near (1)	
Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper installation of appliance (1)	
Defective oil burner (1) 	
32
54
49
46
39
46
28
35
47
33
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
	
-
1
1
1
28
17
27
25
13
17
9
15
13
19
44
16
24
35
18
28
24
23
38
27
2
10
1
1
3
1
2
7
4
7
2
1
9
5
6
2
5
1
3
1
1
6
1
1
1
1
2
1
6
1
1
1
1
1
1
104
87
100
106
70
91
61
73
98
79
409
183
277
869
 R 38
TABLE
IX-
BRITISH COLUMBIA
-TWENTY-YEAR FIRE LOSS
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 Printed by K. M. MacDonald, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
in right of the Province of British Columbia.
1972
880-172-238