[ ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR 1971 BRITISH M IJ^ COLUMBIA V!!!_s\nf. pti Hon. Alex. Macdonald, 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 Fiftieth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31,1971. ALEX. MACDONALD, Q.C. A ttorney-General Victoria, B.C., January 1973. ■ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Report of Fire Marshal 7 Table I—Fire Investigations, Fire Crime Statistics 11 Table II—Inspections Made and Orders Issued by Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal 12 Table III—Fires Reported, Construction of Buildings Burned 14 Table IV—Causes of Fires 16 Table V—Classification of Property Burned and Causes 18 Table VI—Summary 36 Table VII—Ten-year Comparative Statement of Fire Losses 37 Table VIII—Fires With Loss Over $50,000, 1971 38 Table LX—Loss of Life, 1962-71 40 Table X—Twenty-year Fire Loss (Graph) 42 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL Office of the Fire Marshal, Vancouver, B.C., November 30, 1972. The Honourable Alex. Barrett Macdonald, Q.C., Attorney-General, Victoria, B.C. Sir: I beg to submit the Fiftieth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31,1971. The format of this Report has been varied in order to conform with the statistics provided by the Provincial Data Processing Division from the information contained in the fire reports. This is necessary pre-planning for the introduction of a uniform system of fire reporting, effective on January 1,1972. The number of fires reported in the year 1971 was 7,454 (7,546)* which was a slight decrease from the fires reported in the previous year. However, the dollar loss showed an increase to $34,716,758 ($34,561,074). The significance of this small increase may, in part, be attributed to the rising cost of repairs and replacement. This year 153 (104) persons perished in fires; of these 81 (32) were men, 39 (28) were women and 33 (44) were children. Thirty-two of these persons were crew members of the MS Meteor, which was involved in a marine fire disaster which is reported in some detail in a subsequent paragraph. There may be other contributing factors, but smokers' carelessness was reported as being responsible for 47 deaths. This single cause also accounted for 16.9 per cent of all fires reported and 6.3 per cent of the dollar loss for the year. Fire Advisory Service The increase in the activities of the regional districts continues to point out the need of establishing District Offices so as to provide inspectional and administrative assistance to municipalities and unorganized areas. The Certification and Acceptance programme for automobile fire-fighting apparatus continues to provide an important facility to municipalities which require this service in the purchase of such apparatus. The matter of fire department training requirements has received considerable attention, and in particular the need of a training or certification programme at the officer level. To this end we now serve on the Advisory Councils of local regional colleges and anticipate that this subject will be high on the list of priorities for the forthcoming year. Our staff Inspectors made 525 (587) inspections pursuant to the Fire Marshal Act and regulations, while 84,104 (81,056) were made by Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal. A total of 588 (92) Fire Marshal orders were issued and one (four) appeal to the Fire Marshal was heard and determined. * Total for previous year. I 8 BRITISH COLUMBIA British Columbia Emergency Fire Defence Plan All facets of the Emergency Fire Defence Plan continue to be updated; while close liaison is maintained with the Canadian Forces, emphasis is being placed on peace-time emergencies. Muncipalities continue to take advantage of the availability of fire pumpers (which have been assigned to zones by this office) for training and emergency purposes. We also maintain a reciprocal working arrangement with the provinces and states of the Pacific Northwest. The Fire Marshals of British Columbia and States of Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Montana, and the Fire Commissioners of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have met and are in communication on matters of mutual concern in the field of fire prevention and fire protection. By virtue of a reciprocal Aid Agreement, hose thread-adapters are being maintained at all border- crossing points between British Columbia and Washington, Idaho, and Montana in the event that circumstances may require British Columbia Fire Service operations in any one of those states or vice versa. Fire Investigation Service During the year a total of 684 (547) * fires were fully investigated. These included fires where there were loss of life, major damage, violations of regulations or by-laws enacted for the prevention of fires, or for the protection of life and property against fire, or the fires appeared to be of suspicious origin. Our staff Inspectors were involved in 222 (240) investigations. Arising out of these investigations, 106 persons were charged with fire crimes under the Criminal Code of Canada. Altogether, 121 (152) charges were laid and of these 62 resulted in convictions, 14 were dismissed, 25 are pending, and the remainder dealt with otherwise. At 2.30 a.m. on May 22, 1971, a fire occurred on board the MS Meteor, a cruise ship of Norwegian registry, as she was proceeding south on the west side of Texada Island. The passengers were transferred without mishap to other vessels and the MS Meteor was assisted to North Vancouver where the fire was extinguished, but not before 32 members of the crew had lost their lives. The investigation into the cause of the fire was undertaken jointly by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a Royal Commission from Norway, the Department of Transport, and the Office of the Provincial Fire Marshal. An inquest into the 32 deaths was held by the Chief Coroner for the Province, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental deaths. By special arrangement, the Fire Marshal is the focal point within the Province for the collecting and reporting of selected fire-crime statistics to Statistics Canada, and these are included in Table I. Fire Service Training Our Travelling Instructional Units conducted courses in fire-fighting at 68 (140) fire departments and trained a total of 1,056 (1,893) fire-fighters. Specialized courses in marine fire-fighting were conducted in conjunction with the Marine Engineering Department of Vancouver City College, Vancouver Vocational Institute Division. This is the only Ministry of Transport approved course of its kind on the Pacific Coast. Since the Canadian Forces have vacated the Vancouver Wireless Station, the property has reverted to the Department of Transport and we are now looking into the feasibility of obtaining quarters for a Fire Training Academy to enable us to continue with our Fire Training Programme. The training programme * Total for previous year. REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 9 will include facilities for the continuation of the marine fire-fighter course, together with an Industrial Fire Training Programme to be operated in co-operation with the Workmen's Compensation Board as well as officer and fire-fighter training courses for municipal fire departments. Public Information Services Our Film Library continues to provide a very valuable fire-safety information service. Films are made available at no charge to any municipal, volunteer, or industrial fire department and to any group of persons interested in fire safety. We anticipate some expense in the replacement of films which are becoming unsuitable for current showing. Changes in such items as clothing styles often make a film unacceptable, notwithstanding that the message the film conveys is as current as it has always been. We also participate in displays, give lectures, and issue directives on fire safety as deemed necessary. The bulletin File for Reference has been well accepted. Eleven issues were made to our Local Assistants to the Fire Marshal and to other interested persons. Public Safety We continue to be extremely busy in the matter of public safety. This year 1,102 (1,955) * plans and specifications were processed by our Engineering Section. Such plans and specifications are scrutinized for compliance with applicable regulations or are processed at the request of our Local Assistant to the Fire Marshal in whose jurisdiction the building or installation is to be made. This year we were again very much involved with the installation of compressed- gas systems, particularly in the field of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. Their increasing popularity is reflected in that we issued 6,587 (5,789) Fire Marshal Approval Labels in servicing 276 dealer and manufacturer applicants, and 193 units were inspected and tested. Moving-picture Projectionist Examinations held pursuant to the Fire Marshal Act and regulations were attended by 22 (26) applicants, and as a result 16 (10) first-class, 5 (5) second-class, and 1 (3) third-class projectionist licences were issued. Two of our regulations, the Regulation Governing the Construction, Installation, and Maintenance of Chimneys, Fireplaces, Smokepipes, and Furnace Chambers, and the Regulation Governing the Location, Construction, Occupancy, and Safety of Community Halls, Assembly Halls, Theatres (Other Than Moving-picture Theatres), and Public Halls (Including Dance Halls) were updated by way of amendments. These regulations are now consistent with the basic requirements of the National Building Code of Canada (1970). During 1971 we were pleased to have had as guests R. A. Orchard, M.I., Fire E., Assistant Chief Officer, County Fire Authority, Victoria, Australia; Fire Commissioner Bridges, Alberta; Rex Jordan, Assistant to the Inspector of Insurance and State Fire Marshal, State of Washington. We are pleased to advise that former Chief Fire Officer K. Holland, M.I., Fire E., a visitor to our Province in 1970, has been appointed as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services in the United Kingdom. Statistical information is given each year to the Dominion Fire Commissioner, Fire Marshals, and Fire Commissioners across Canada and the United States, insur- * Total for previous year. 2 I 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA ance companies, adjusters, and libraries, to the 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 staff for excellent co-operation. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, HENRY K. JENNS Fire Marshal REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 11 TABLE I—FIRES INVESTIGATED A. Total number of fires investigated throughout the Province B. Fires investigated by the office of the Fire Marshal— Accident or negligence Incendiary Unknown - Charges laid throughout the Province— Number of persons charged Number of charges laid Arson Setting fire to other substance Other offences Disposition of charges- Convicted Dismissed Withdrawn Stay of proceedings Committed to institution Pending Adults . 71 86 49 18 19 . 46 11 . 4 3 5 17 Juveniles 35 35 19 7 9 16 3 3 5 Totals 684 85 105 32 222 106 121 68 25 28 62 14 7 8 5 25 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 417 79 338 71 24 60 11 35 r I 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA 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 1,241 107 915 1,341 1,196 1,416 713 1,274 767 156 5,142 2,734 1,594 209 240 1,622 432 254 246 19,942 1,105 12,124 328 3 2 Cranbrook Fernie 1 Trail 11 Kimberley ■ ■—■ T-angle.y 14 Totals .. _ 54,835 187 District Municipalities (40) BrocklehursL- Burnaby_ Campbell River- Central Saanich... Chilliwhack Coldstream Coquitlam Delta Esquimalt- Fraser Mills- Gold River- Houston Hudson's Hope- Kent Kitimat- Langley Mackenzie— Maple Ridge.. Matsqui Mission North Cowichan- 1 9,807 472 24 226 25 184 1,742 367 52 458 1 64 219 303 400 North Saanich North Vancouver- Oak Bay Peachland—„ Pitt Meadows.. Port Hardy Powell River Richmond Saanich Salmon Arm Spallumcheen.. Sparwood Squamish Stewart- Sumas — Summerland- Surrey Terrace West Vancouver- Totals- 1,197 2,726 239 367 606 110 18 76 9 68 5,096 606 664 25,726 401 Town Municipalities (14) Castlegar- Comox Creston.. Fort St. John- Golden Hope Kinnaird Ladysmith 492 56 " 64 Merritt Quesnel— Sidney Smithers- Valleyview Williams Lake.- Totals- 128 168 908 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 13 TABLE II—INSPECTIONS MADE AND ORDERS ISSUED BY LOCAL ASSISTANTS TO THE FIRE MARSHAL—Continued Village Municipalities (58) Districts Reporting Inspections Orders Districts Reporting Inspections Orders 83 New Denver Oliver 100 MilftTTniisft 9 18 39 9 6 74 1 22 Pnrr MrW^ill Qualicum Beach 2 3 Sp.r.hRlt 1 16 Torino " 14 8 Valleyview T yttcm Warfield 28 333 Fire Districts (15) Cariboo, County of- Colwood loco Kootenay, County of_ Langford- Nanaimo, County of- Ocean Falls Prince Rupert, County of ~ 6 208 115 493 1 Sooke . University Endowment Lands.. Vancouver, County of Victoria, County of View Royal- Westminster, County of- Yale, County of. Totals- 599 4 124 12 740 2,302 Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, Grand totals, 1971.. 1970- 1969- 1968- 1967_ 1966- 1965- 1964_ 1963- 1962.. Inspections _ 84,104 _ 81,056 _ 77,927 __ 92,074 _.. 85,969 _ 84,874 .._ 83,678 _ 82,758 _ 92,088 _ 88,441 Orders 588 92 197 172 529 603 178 151 100 192 I 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE III—FIRES REPORTED City Municipalities (31) Districts Reporting Number Amount of Loss Districts Reporting Number Amount of Loss Armstrong 5 29 22 16 32 14 4 9 10 5 96 57 21 15 102 23 $ 10,765 106,696 40,933 85,247 88,166 52,798 25,475 36,159 40,392 21,416 922,910 748,330 1,264,381 59,673 494,491 51,309 191 108 62 85 53 25 228 73 15 12 65 1,724 40 314 29 $ 883,497 Chilliwack 156,317 Courtenay 56,391 Cranbrook. 143,388 Dawson Creek.. 52,690 31,138 481,063 984,034 Prince George Fernie Grand Forks 50,165 Greenwood— 5,824 Kamloops Kelowna - Trail 49,051 4,843,751 Kimberley 96,915 Langley 713,929 Nanaimo. White Rock 179,848 Totals 3,465 12,777,142 District Municipalities (42 ) 1 383 57 21 59 24 101 144 1 32 3 8 3 26 30 28 88 33 27 32 $ 9,000 990,790 240,843 32,864 110,807 28,565 201,248 415,472 5,100 588,633 5 216 40 6 12 3 20 161 148 20 7 6 7 11 17 9 391 27 101 $ 45,905 186,974 Oak Bay - . 45,097 58,725 66,876 22,300 Delta 29,635 Richmond ... 684,487 105,060 60,917 5,118 109,599 6,018 79,027 451,756 151,711 253,509 272,801 85,170 184,026 94,827 4,219 24,173 Kent 274,947 44,044 42,312 1,034,142 656,721 186,867 2,308 7,890,285 Town Municipalities (14) Castlegar- Comox Creston.. Fort St. John- Golden Hope Kinnaird Ladysmith 3 4 10 26 7 12 2 19 2,075 1,378 5,668 41,894 262,625 41,918 2,700 10,379 Merritt Quesnel Sidney Smithers- Valleyview Williams Lake.. Totals.. 16 25 1 7 3 41 176 $ 76,708 126,027 794 21,513 1,938 118,806 714,423 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 TABLE III—FIRES REPORTED—Continued Village Municipalities (57) I 15 Districts Reporting Number Amount of Loss Districts Reporting Number Amount of Loss 15 4 7 7 5 4 6 2 3 2 2 1 1 3 3 4 2 3 2 5 2 1 5 $ 20,719 33,500 1,190 82,664 6,967 15,789 2,010 40 2 6 5 7 3 2 1 1 2 9 9 1 1 1 5 2 7 1 1 3 1 3 2 2 $ 4,335 Oliver inn Mile House 47,896 6,743 971 Parksville - - 17,736 18,800 Port Edward 6,200 Port Mi-Nei" 4,372 150 105,657 44,232 9,828 28,760 710 75 75,000 10,000 Gibsons Landing 500 Sfinhelt 100,000 3,497 1,200,167 13,219 3,397 42,218 565 10,096 27,500 30,762 2,800 1,686 8,450 9,612 Valemount ValleyvieW- 197 74,003 74 3,239 Warfield _ - - 2,320 15 Nakusp 21,046 Totals 166 2,099,707 Fire Districts (19) Cariboo, County of Colwood loco Kelowna regulated— Kootenay, County of- Langford.. Nanaimo, County of Ocean Falls Prince Rupert, County of .. Sooke 355 27 3 167 13 205 3 101 6 3,588,274 37,247 15,010 1,886,304 23,199 1,873,460 548 1,042,287 8,004 University Endowment Lands.. Vancouver, County of Victoria, County of View Royal- Westminster, County of... Yale, County of Totals- Grand totals.. 17 62 52 7 50 271 $ 35,920 438,695 123,169 6,681 196,819 1,959,584 1,339 11,235,201 7,454 I 34,716,758 Construction of Buildings Burned Number Amount of Loss Number Amount of Loss Fire resistive- City municipalities- District municipalities- Town municipalities— Village municipalities... Fire districts Local districts Brick, concrete, or heavy timber—■ City municipalities. District municipalities.- Town municipalities— Village municipalities— Fire districts Local districts 13 5 469 82 9 2 24 $ 125,587 8,136 15,000 2,431,012 624,285 34,341 77,755 164,777 Wood frame— City municipalities District municipalities- Town municipalities Village municipalities— Fire districts Local districts Metal or corrugated iron- City municipalities District municipalities.. Town municipalities Village municipalities— Fire districts Local districts Totals- 2,957 2,209 166 162 1,306 45 12 1 1 9 10,130,331 7,236,786 680,010 2,003,252 10,484,331 90,212 21,078 72 3,700 586,093 7,454 | 34,716,758 I 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV—CAUSES OF FIRES Causes of Fires Fires Number Total Loss Amount Total Aeroplane crash. Boilers or pipes defective or overheated.. Candle and open flame Chemical explosion- Children playing with fire- Chimney- Defective or overheated- Sparks from Collision Defective— Battery connection. Carburettor . Brooder Muffler Oven . Wiring. Dust explosion Electrical appliance and equipment- Electrical wiring overloaded Electro-welding equipment Sparks from Engine backfiring Exposure '. Fireplace- Defective Sparks from. Fireworks Friction— In brake drum In conveyer belt- In machinery In pulley In tires Furnace or furnace pipes. Combustible material too near- Defective Insufficiently protected.. Sparks from Gas, liquefied petroleum- Explosion.. Improper installation of appliance Improper use or defective equipment- Gas, natural— Improper installation of appliance- Improper use or defective equipment . Gasoline— Broken line. Carelessness with_ On exhaust pipe.. Pump damaged by motor-vehicle- Stove, lamp, torch Used in cleaning- Used to kindle fire- Vapour explosion.— Heat radiation Hot ashes, coals, etc Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of- Incendiary- Inflammable vapour, ignition of.. 75 24 1 21 62 17 8 15 1 5 1 11 60 22 4 45 1 17 127 65 55 7 24 6 5 110 1 1 78 9 66 3 99 17 11 516 1 9 2 356 2 408 22 12 24 82 187 84 41 46 87 71 18 399 195 24 414 684 32 253,694 52,675 98 13,859 135,335 72,585 17,873 713,335 200 5,930 11,477 24,462 705,865 19,812 63,344 274,075 37,750 266,521 50 91,225 266,353 170,543 111,198 6,223 70,760 17,649 14,561 471,183 $ 10,000 605 265,759 55,778 114,929 5,242 306,369 14,230 22,204 338,924 1,500 9,786 99 1,587,085 20,500 1,956,467 133,336 265,711 34,930 61,312 961,584 149,292 54,952 809,923 824,960 578,346 91,275 1,128,470 469,212 60,161 452,289 4,310,018 144,539 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 TABLE TV—CAUSES OF FIRES—Continued I 17 Causes of Fires Fires Number Total Loss Amount Total Kerosene— Carelessness with— Stove, lamp, torch. Lightning- Matches.. Carelessness with.. Children with Molten metal.. Motor-vehicle upset.. Oil-burner. Broken line- Defective Defective equipment- Explosion Sparks from Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment. Defective , Improper use of~ Sparks from Short circuit- Smokers' carelessness.. In bed In the home In motor-vehicle- public premises- Intoxicated Sparks from— Bonfire Bush fire_ Engine- Grinder Mill burner- Spontaneous ignition Steam-pipe Insufficiently protected- Stove or stove-pipes_ Combustible material too near- Defective . Explosion- Insufficiently protected. Sparks from Sulphur, ignition of. Thawing pipes Unknown Totals. 1 13 186 1 7 62 40 20 4 1 2 12 46 102 278 594 171 106 15 19 43 3 11 20 1 62 37 8 15 13 10 9 200 7 29 134 61 429 1,266 96 65 1 136 2 20 1,007 7,454 $ 6,642 15,955 307 11,267 304,608 150,000 21,022 227,397 84,684 90,423 35,840 211 243 131,710 164,574 277,302 366,897 1,300,935 57,605 124,122 87,680 43,854 255,432 4,907 133,743 364,693 7,000 202,801 205,498 23,932 25,725 67,622 22,597 56,212 316,182 71,641 92,540 609,366 296,738 1,181,298 2,214,541 802,629 427,972 81 532,578 626,657 69,829 12,176,110 34,716,758 I 18 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 5 3 1 5 28 1 1 6 3 1 1 3 3 14 3 43 57 11 3 2 1 9 12 62 96 4 3 2 3 1 2 1 47 $ 102,603 3,545 14,000 18,684 101,833 40,000 1,235 51,596 420 12,000 339 350 8,250 8,968 10,684 47,598 344,940 12,747 838 1,322 244 19,664 23,633 55,136 367,801 1,261 4,255 3,850 65,750 90 5,880 1,657 725,295 1 $ 10 000 Defective wiring .. Fireworks Gas, natural, improper use or defec- Gasoline— Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of . Oil burner— Sparks from weld-cutting equipment. Stove- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 570 200 25 87,400 10,500 24,063 50 i | | j Sparks from weld-cutting equipment— 1 7 6 122,808 Barber shops and beauty 1 1 2 1 1 25 18 5,500 634 300 parlours Electrical appliance and equipment- Gasoline stove, lamp, torch 6,477 Barns and stables - 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 6 3 5,575 800 8,286 8,000 750 3,000 300 2,322 68,830 12,245 Exposure, Gasoline—■ Tnr.endiary REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 19 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 1 6 3 2 1 3 1 1 10 22 $ 9,500 62,848 17,472 2,260 1,200 18,500 5,000 450 66,777 131,578 70 3 15 1 4 1 1 1 6 17 2 $ Matches, children with Sparks from— Electrical appliance and equipment 425,693 1 1 1 150 435 1,000 1,585 Boarding-houses . 1 1 5 2 4 1 1 100 90 100 100 524 500 24,500 Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Smokers' carelessness— 25,914 29,000 1 1 1 1 6,000 2,500 540 200 Smokers' carelessness, public premises Electrical wiring overloaded. 9,240 228 110 Bottling-works 1 60,000 Electrical appliance and equipment 60,000 Buildings under construc- 1 1 2 1 1 1,796 2,000 38,000 100 1,546 Sparks from weld-cutting equipment Gas, liquefied petroleum— Explosion Improper installation of appliance Improper use or defective equipment 43,442 Bunkhouses 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 3 157,000 36,000 50 2,500 46,935 7,000 200 75,000 2,528 227 56,695 Smokers' carelessness— Stove- Explosion . 384,135 1 1 700 10,230 Smokers' carelessness in bed Electrical appliance and equipment; Hot ashes, coals, etc. Incendiary 10,930 Churches and church property 1 1 5 1 35 2,500 235,365 150 I 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V- -CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 2 1 1 1 3 $ 175 1,293 8,500 8,000 14,202 16 15 3 2 1 1 3 1 1 7 1 3 $ 270,220 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 16,686 4,865 28,000 65 551,968 207 350 700 265,903 Smokers' carelessness, public premises— 868,744 Clubhouses, golf, yacht, 2 1 2,600 533 3,133 Coal and lumber yards .... 1 1 569 14,709 15,278 340,378 Cold-storage plant Compressor 1 2 1,000 30,079 1,500 Smokers' carelessness, public premises 31,079 500 Creosoting plant Dairy - Dehydrating plants 1 1 2 2 1 795 500,000 4,300 335 10 120,000 Friction—• Sparks from electro-welding equipments Inflammable vapour, ignition of Electrical appliance and equipment 505,440 13,250 1 1 1 700 1,878 111,556 Dry-cleaning plants Boiler or pipes, defective or overheated— 114,134 1 58 3 48 3 67 21 1 1 35 2 87 277 10 2 1 1 52 1 20 62 17 1 1 3 605 105,303 22,577 104,410 5,242 238,863 38,125 9,000 62,162 99 429,224 671,437 46,948 12,050 2,250 40 185,477 98 13,609 135,335 24,828 75 500 1,072 Chimney— Defective— Friction in — REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 21 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Loss Number Furnace- Combustible material too near Defective- Insufficiently protected- Sparks from. Gas, liquefied petroleum— Explosion . Improper installation of appliance Improper use or defective equipment- Gas, natural—• Improper installation of appliance Improper use or defective equipment- Gasoline— Broken line Carelessness with On exhaust pipe Stove, lamp, torch Used in cleaning _ — Used to kindle fire Vapour explosion Heat radiation Hot ashes, coals, etc.- Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of„ Incendiary... Inflammable vapour, ignition of~ Kerosene— Carelessness with Stove, lamp, torch Lightning Matches- Matches— Carelessness with- Children with Molten metal Motor-vehicle upset- Oil-burner— Broken line Defective Defective equipment- Explosion Sparks from.. Weld^cutting equipment— Defective Improper use of- Sparks from Short circuit Smokers* carelessness- In bed In the home In motor-vehicle Public premises Intoxicated Sparks from— Bonfire Bush fire Engine- Mill burner- Spontaneous ignition.. Steam-pipe insufficiently protected- Stove— Combustible material too near. Defective Explosion.. Insufficiently protected.. Sparks from . Thawing pipes Unknown 11 45 6 5 19 1 12 5 22 3 17 4 5 40 100 15 334 180 20 3 5 3 1 9 114 1 1 5 37 26 13 2 1 2 9 135 41 109 453 6 14 6 7 25 1 1 24 1 44 26 6 11 8 17 392 Total Number 24,462 159,555 17,648 62,329 53,612 1,400 65,315 50 19,756 24,171 82,479 6,165 61,176 3,527 14,561 103,893 279,621 42,187 343,022 493,133 51,726 6,642 14,850 3,734 307 7,289 177,975 102 700 19,571 102,260 67,721 50,334 1,300 218 425 39,469 294,961 66,314 143,431 694,088 1,027 5,179 21,370 16,024 166,450 35 1,870 92,081 81 85,670 144,438 19,705 19,805 63,604 62,944 2,755,621 Total Amount 3,189 9,166,712 I 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 1 2 $ 200 5,500 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 7 4 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 4 1 4 $ Electrical appliance and equipment 5,700 1,000 Electric-light and tele- 17,233 4,534 Electrical manufacturing 12,000 625 3,000 21,767 10,278 35,000 45,278 Factories— 165 134 299 Brick. 1 1 1 1 350,000 1,000 19,334 300 400 65 200 Clothing, cotton proces- 119,000 Electrical appliance and equipment . 8,525 Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of 370,634 1 1 25,000 24,280 Hot. ashes, coals, etc. 49,280 Industrial equipment 1 1 1 4 3,500 6,500 45,000 93,141 148,141 Paint _ 1 1 1 1 4,000 550 5,925 287,062 Sparks from weld-cutting equipment 297,537 120 1 1 9,000 700 Paper products Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use 9,700 2,000 1 1 800 1,500 500 650 Inflammable vapour, ignition of 2,300 332,883 Veneer and plywood 1 1 1 1 10 150 75 50 Electrical appliance and equipment Exposure . Smokers' carelessness, public premises Sparks from electro-welding equipment Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Incendiary 285 35 975 Fertilizer plant Fire and police stations 1 3 200 775 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 23 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 4 1 2 1 1 12 4 2 5 1 1 $ 34,700 22,000 7,588 1,000 25,000 90,305 23,035 800 26,933 200 1,000 34 1 1 1 3 173 $ Electrical appliance and equipment Gasoline—• Broken line Oil-burner—• 232,561 5,243 Foundry 1 1 1 35,000 29 4,500 Fruit-pa eking plant 200 Funeral chapel. 10,000 stitutions Smokers' carelessness— 39,529 1 1 2 3 1 4 4 1 1 5 4 3 3 5 2 62 1 10 3 2 2 2 3 1 40 1,000 3,888 2,431 4,350 900 112,750 10,561 30,000 200 5,255 7,850 5,950 3,950 1,575 1,075 37,990 1,000 4,720 12,914 310 1,024 1,500 2,200 200 3,461 400 675 1,200 75 200 72,053 Gasoline— Kerosene, stove, lamp, torch— Smokers' carelessness . ,-, Public premises . .. Sparks from— Stove— Combustible materials too near 331,657 1 1 500 3,700 300 200 356 309 250 Electrical appliance and equipment Furnace, defective Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use Gas, natural, improper use or defeo I 24 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount Gasoline— Pump damaged by motor-vehicle. . .. 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 7 $ 200 14,000 6,480 20 20 20,000 710 4,000 991 4,000 35 77,472 28 21 3 2 19 5 $ Sparks from— 133,543 2 1 1 1 1 4 5 1 2 1 2 430 4,257 5,980 1,850 18,404 4,458 108,950 65 11,900 500 12,875 Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use Gasoline— Pump damaged by motor-vehicle Vapour explosion Incendiary Incendiary Smokers' carelessness 169,669 1 2 45 1,025 1,070 1 1 749 664 Furnace insufficiently protected 1,413 Halls 1 2 1 5 2 1 2 1 4 182,500 89,700 500 48,707 610 33,500 57,600 400 118,107 Electrical appliances and equipment 531,624 2 1 1 1 11,000 35 75 1,300 Smokers' carelessness, public premises 12,410 1 1 3 2 1 7 1 1 1 2 50 25,000 1,786 535 200 570 150 6,748 3,583 904 Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Incendiary Matches— REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 25 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount Smokers' carelessness 1 27 1 23 2 1 1 3 $ 95 498 5 382 150 200 619 24 79 114 1 4 52 13 $ Public premises Sparks from—■ Electro-weld equipment 41,499 Hotels 2 3 3 1 1 1 2 26 1 2 4 41 2 12 2 1 1 1 8 860 6,278 98,675 4,067 798 500 2,273 111,643 1,585 511 1,363 44,589 194 11,230 355 300 9,000 625,000 395,227 Electrical appliance and equipment — Electrical wiring overloaded Exposure Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Incendiary Inflammable vapour, ignition of In the home Public premises Intoxicated Sparks from electro-welding equipment Unknown 1,314,448 2,500 1 1 1 1 3,495 490 200 82,125 Laboratories (research) — Electrical appliance and equipment Incendiary Stoves, combustible material too near 86,310 5 1 5 1 1 4 1 3 1 13 2 2 1 3 1 1 1 6 43,600 15,000 40,680 2,000 4,500 10,050 25,000 18,400 75 98,260 7,200 14,300 11,000 10,000 50 22,000 3,000 12,813 craft, etc.) Electrical appliance and equipment Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use or defective equipment Gasoline— Incendiary Smokers' carelessness . Sparks from weld-cutting equipment Unknown. — 337,928 Laundries. .... 1 5 1 1 2 2 1 24,758 3,535 2,225 10 150 772 7,500 Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use i Heat radiation ! Smokers' carelessness, public premises . 38,950 I 26 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 1 1 $ 1,059 10,901 2 5 2 $ Exposure .... Stove, combustible material too near 11,960 Machine-shops 1 1 3 2,000 3,500 3,885 9,385 Metal-salvage plants 1 1 100 15 Sparks from furnace . . - 115 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 6 1 7 4 3 1 2 3 1 1 7 127 27,000 1,132 3,010 909 450 100 122 1,000 789 53,935 210 1,821 24,404 3,761 2,105 1,150 1,073 478 820 224,877 Electrical appliances and equipment Gas, liquefied petroleum— Explosion - — Improper use or defective equipment— Gasoline— Used in cleanings Lightning — - - Smokers' carelessness— Sparks from—■ Grinder— Weld-cutting equipment Stove- Combustible material too near 1 51 349,273 Motor-vehicles— i ii 5 420 4 176 11 57 35 2 7 2 1 3 88 16 34 2 18 13 98 4 19 1 1 2 3 275 9,700 1,535 155,619 1,594 58,458 6,000 20,971 14,563 685 3,927 1,200 200 1,300 56,076 8,877 25,304 1,565 3,543 7,794 106,111 1,301 35,745 45 211 2,300 1,102 Collision . 1 Exposure _ Friction— Gasoline— Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment Weld-cutting equipment— REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 27 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 163 3 153 4 1 134 $ 72,748 358 46,669 3,340 75 91,791 1,492 4 18 23 73 $ Smokers' carelessness Sparks from electro-weld equipment- Gasoline— 740,982 Buses 2 1 1 6,362 500 51 6,913 Campers — 3 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 850 150 195 1,000 1,500 5,472 3,325 1,025 3,674 2,551 Electrical appliance and equipment Exposure Gas, liquefied petroleum— Explosion Improper use or defective equipment Incendiary Smokers' carelessness in motor-vehicle 19,742 4 6 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 3,052 2,738 1,300 225 950 650 25 1,257 1,825 Gasoline— Sparks from weld-cutting equipments 12,022 3 4 1 10 1 2 1 3 2 2 3 2 4 1 5 1 2 10 1 15 11,415 2,080 1,174 26,005 17,611 440 1,100 50,500 12,528 50,200 65,400 1,500 21,184 50 22,575 29,000 20,895 42,593 30,000 104,174 etc. Friction— Gasoline—■ Inflammable vapour, ignition of. 510,424 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1,500 2,023 15 51,000 4,380 500 500 Friction—< I 28 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount Smokers' carelessness in motor-vehicle ... 1 1 3 $ 30 300 2,700 14 276 49 4 $ 62,948 Trucks _ 2 2 38 2 32 3 13 26 1 3 1 2 2 14 4 14 4 10 1 19 1 1 7 24 1 7 1 1 2 38 2,600 254 28,191 550 47,004 16,700 8,463 112,334 200 4,055 250 14,000 2,300 42,279 1,150 51,529 1,900 16,419 15 8,335 4,500 703 35,200 29,387 159 4,705 9,000 250 3,050 67,685 Defective wiring Exposure _. Fireworks. Friction— Gas, liquefied petroleum— Improper use or defective equipment.... Gasoline— Broken line Carelessness with > Smokers' carelessness. __ Sparks from—■ 513,167 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 15 1 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 2,750 320 7,171 686 300 10,000 738 483,310 550 2,155 36,727 500 10 850 5,150 500 3,800 50,989 Electrical appliance and equipment Exposure Gas, liquefied petroleum— Improper use or defective equipment.... Smokers' carelessness.. Sparks from— Bonfire. .. i Spontaneous ignition Unknown 606,506 1 1 1 1 550 3,000 15,000 75 Sparks from weld-cutting equipment. 18,625 I REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 29 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 $ 500 14,387 916 3,000 500 5,000 38,000 8 1 7 1 2 8 4 7 7 2 11 1 2 $ Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use Gasoline, broken line Incendiary Inflammable vapour, ignition of Sparks from— Bonfire Mill burner 62,303 30 1 2 2 1 1 150 145 148 50 578 Playground facilities.. 1,071 10,000 1 1 1,000 35,000 Defective brooder 36,000 Poultry houses 1 1 1 5 1,500 494 640 17,071 Stove, combustible material too near Electrical appliance and equipment 19,705 2 1 1 6,250 15,000 2,100 23,350 1 1 1 1 1 2 3,778 25 400 22,000 225 27,692 Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Oil-burners— 54,120 1 1 1 1 1 2 1,145 1,700 50 135 65 1,722 Gasoline— Electrical wiring overloaded 4,817 1 1 4,296 2,450 6,746 Railroad rolling-stock 1 2 2 1 1 4 6,000 76,000 2,100 40,500 4,500 15,970 Electrical appliance and equipment Weld-cutting equipment, improper use of . Smokers' carelessness, public premises 145,070 22,000 1 1 2,000 66,700 Railroad stations and properties Incendiary 68,700 6 2 3 9,446 50,025 2,489 I 30 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 1 2 4 9 5 1 2 3 3 1 5 1 1 8 $ 50 215 784 6,412 30,055 1,406 4,201 2,590 40,090 1,494 1,392 47,000 258 151,472 57 2 1 28 73 $ Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use or defective equipment Smokers' carelessness Spontaneous ignition. Stove, combustible material too near Smokers' carelessness, public premises Sparks from weld-cutting equipment Unknown. Chimneys— 349,379 Rinks— 1 1 50 100 150 5,000 Roller-skating 1 1 1 1 3 1 8 6 1 1 1 1 2 4,500 50 45,000 35,000 470 6,700 35,459 9,448 50 260 5 6,000 16,841 Smokers' carelessness— In the home — Sparks from weld-cutting equipment Stove insufficiently protected - 159,783 1 3 4 3 3 2 3 1 2 2 5 1 1 12 1 1 19 2 7 200 372,000 5,997 150,450 7,050 3,800 146,288 1,200 41,611 19,000 273,458 9,600 1,000 233,504 34,500 1,600 1,905,012 87,160 10,518 Electro-welding equipment Friction— Lightning Sparks from— Weld-cutting equipment— 3 303 948 1 1 1 3 648 4,000 200 30 800 Chimneys, defective or overheated Electrical appliance and equipment Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 31 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 52 1 3 1 2 1 2 10 $ 413,572 10 200 50 20 35,000 1,650 1,486,066 79 152 3 8 $ Smokers' carelessness Candle and open flame— 1,942,246 Sheds 1 1 6 1 5 1 2 2 3 3 19 11 2 2 2 2 2 4 8 2 1 1 6 2 3 2 37 300 1,000 2,550 75 2,938 20,000 2,004 3,350 2,982 385 1,500 3,450 6,710 1,900 8,910 44,500 303 4,640 6,653 150,000 3,350 1,500 6,245 500 402 7,700 1,640 3,374 775 2,680 4,421 10,400 4,472 150 16,578 1,200 5,950 3,183 227,061 Defective wiring Electrical appliance and equipment: Furnace insufficiently protected- Gas, natural, improper use or defective Gasoline— Weld-cutting equipment— Public premises Sparks from— Stove— Combustible material too near Exposure . . 565,731 35,365 40 5,000 Defective carburettor ~ 40,405 Ships 1 2,500 6,318 10,000 513 30,000 2,000 600 4,000 Gasoline— Stove, explosion 55,931 1 I 32 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount Ski-lift $ 1,000 12,000 50 200 1 1 4 4 2 3 207 $ 17,740 1,100 Inflammable vapour, ignition of Candle and open flame 13,250 2 | 520 1 | 3,500 1 | 484 4,504 250 1,250 1,500 Steel-fabricating plants 100 20 1,954 Chimney, defective or overheated 2,074 2 22 3 3 2 1 1 5 7 27 1 1 2 4 2 2 1 2 13 11 1 1 17 1 2 3 1 53 1,000 14,367 170,347 16,114 300 12,600 341,159 788 122,932 67,430 1,000 700 18,128 28,404 236,867 25 854 2,200 1,996 1,500 5,900 25 775 276,167 83,318 25 41,000 13,235 1,650 500 2,060 2,300 1,171,631 Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use Gas, natural, improper use or defective Gasoline—■ Oil-burner— Defective Weld-cutting equipment—■ Public premises , . Sparks from— Ronfire Stove, combustible material too near Electrical appliance and equipment 2,637,297 Stores and apartments 1 4 1 1 1 7 1 240 2,690 1,392 1,759 200 96,115 50 Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 33 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount 1 1 4 2 1 6 $ 4,625 705 30,600 13,478 230 700 147,961 40 22 17 10 2 4 8 5 $ In bed Public premises . Sparks from weld-cutting equipment- 300,745 Stores and dwellings i i 3 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 8 9,764 14,955 33,286 14,000 150 10,000 1,650 20,000 7,000 264,416 Defective wiring Stove or stove-pipes 375,221 Stores and offices 2 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 3 2 600 560 50 75,400 1,000 751 350 30 760 6,267 Exposure Incendiary _ . . Smokers' carelessness Unknown Candle and open flame Electrical appliance and equipment 85,768 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 40,000 50 30,000 175 2,359 515 1,000 Matches, children with. ,— Smokers* carelessness in bed. . . Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of 74,099 1 1 500 500 1,000 Telephone exchanges and 3 1 210 10 Candle and open flame 220 Tents 1 1 2 1 3 30 15 169 130 1,244 Smokers' carelessness in the home.——.— Electrical appliance and equipment Exposure 1,588 1 1 1 1 1 904 10,000 175 50 156 Smokers' carelessness, public premises 11,285 Trailers (mobile homes).... 3 1 1 1 6 3 7 1 1 3,166 218 906 6,000 39,027 8,000 10,660 . 2.000 Defective or overheated chimney . Defective wiring Electrical appliance and equipment -— 11.477 1 1 I 34 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount Gas, liquefied petroleum— 4 1 3 2 1 5 2 1 1 1 3 5 2 12 25 $ 31,368 350 5,500 415 1,625 20,837 714 5,000 25 105 5,921 20,050 2,550 20,826 20,540 3,840 32,378 200 10,000 15,300 35,000 2,500 162,054 110 15 2 2 6 $ Improper installation of appliance Improper use or defective equipment— Gasoline— Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Incendiary .. Kerosene, stove, lamp, torch Oil-burner— Defective Defective equipment Sparks from weld-cutting equipments Stove- Combustible material too near 478,602 7,000 7,500 3,000 5,694 50 2,025 2,200 54,765 Gas, liquefied petroleum— Improper use or defective equipment— 82,234 250 15 265 65 40,000 200 7,760 2,000 2,500 18,000 Tugboats Sparks from electro-welding equipment- Stove, combustible material too near Children playing with fire 70,460 2 3 2 16 100 170 378,000 5,330 18,876 1,000 300 51 177,959 500 100 4,200 25 40,000 Electrical appliance and equipment Friction—■ REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 35 TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Causes Loss Property Number Amount Total Number Total Amount Sparks from— Bush fire 1 2 1 14 $ 2,000 800 635 485,216 52 3 4 1 29 $ Stove, combustible material too near 1,115,262 1 1 1 100 250 500 Sparks from electro-welding equipment.— 850 1 1 1 1 2,000 2,380 1,628 50 Incendiary Matches, carelessness with Weld-cutting equipment, improper use of 6,058 15,500 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 7 17,490 2,100 500 20,000 6,460 25,000 95,000 1 9,921 1,116 19,500 3,270 8,863 44,100 4,000 64,352 Gasoline— Oil-burner— Defective Sparks from— Stove, combustible material too near Grand totals 321,673 7,454 34,716,758 I 36 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE VI—SUMMARY Number of Fires, 1971 ' City Municipality District Municipality Town Municipality Village Municipality Fire District Local District Total January February 291 257 255 277 310 250 351 330 285 294 249 316 227 153 168 183 179 172 222 190 194 214 177 229 20 10 12 14 18 13 13 9 17 17 14 19 13 14 12 25 14 12 6 10 12 17 20 11 140 64 111 125 104 88 116 133 117 105 109 127 697 498 558 624 May June July 631 535 715 672 September October November December 625 647 569 702 Totals 3,465 2,308 176 166 1,339 7,454 Amount of Loss, 1971 January February- March April May June July., August September- October November- December-. Totals- 1,929,212 1,152,645 356,003 491,646 921,680 1,227,406 656,060 1,395,371 1,392,958 545,647 991,159 1,717,355 12,777,142 $ 718,597 847,034 431,091 406,699 585,997 358,264 505,404 1,130,835 395,693 1,166,924 356,468 987,279 7,890,285 $ 245,742 17,068 80,822 21,173 39,607 25,885 24,223 23,061 103,319 80,633 33,633 19,257 714,423 $ 18,877 33,107 18,480 81,618 155,075 34,244 14,024 57,270 1,410,877 133,357 82,654 60,124 2,099,707 1,470,602 383,982 815,251 624,112 882,622 541,132 609,812 1,876,024 735,973 843,107 756,434 1,696,150 11,235,201 4,383,030 2,433,836 1,701,647 1,625,248 2,584,981 2,186,931 1,809,523 4,482,561 4,038,820 2,769,668 2,220,348 4,480,165 34,716,758 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 37 TABLE VII—TEN-YEAR COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FIRE LOSSES Year City Municipalities District Municipalities Town Municipalities Fires Losses Fires Losses Fires Losses 1971.... 1970 3,465 3,352 3,463 3,081 3,264 3,350 3,351 3,366 3,233 3,570 $ 12,777,142 9,529,652 8,466,521 6,899,093 7,327,896 10,340,128 4,756,985 4,204,463 4,343,193 3,966,380 2,308 2,362 2,524 2,301 2,129 2,026 2,030 2,166 2,113 2,270 $ 7,890,285 8,721,629 6,924,503 4,296,276 5,307,350 3,173,114 2,855,954 3,325,408 3,214,837 2,275,737 176 168 141 173 154 144 109 71 61 79 $ 714,423 988,678 IQfiQ 694,863 1968 ., 1967 763,822 558,875 1966 554,895 1965 342,522 1964 . 1963 242,674 339,654 1962 61,020 Totals 33,495 72,611,453 22,279 47,985,093 1,276 5,261,426 Year Village Municipalities Fire Districts Totals Fires Losses Fires Losses Fires Losses 1971 1970 1969. .. . _ 1Q6S 1966..." : ~ ... 7 1965 166 180 170 178 161 187 184 245 246 261 $ 2,099,707 1,029,951 703,746 1,455,474 1,619,445 912,541 878,033 830,912 634,304 720,592 1,339 1,484 1,304 1,277 1,226 1,196 1,253 1,270 1,262 1,432 $ 11,235,201 14,291,164 10,724,813 7,702,306 6,676,487 8,164,901 5,304,290 6,382,406 5,260,743 7,323,141 7,454 7,546 7,602 7,010 6,934 6,903 6,977 7,118 6,915 7,612 72,071 $ 34,716,758 34,561,074 27,514,446 21,116,971 21,490,053 23,145,579 14,137,784 1964 14,985,863 1963 19*7. 13,792,731 14,346,870 Totals 1,978 10,884,705 13,043 83,065,452 219,808,129 I 38 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE VIII—FIRES WITH LOSS OVER $50,000, 1971 Month Place Classification of Property Cause of Fire Loss Kimberley Kimberley .... Prince Rupert _ Burnaby Dairies— Schools and colleges Cold-storage plants _. Clubs - Bakeries Apartments.. Sawmills $ 120,000 1,060,000 340,378 91,000 87,400 77,300 200,000 350,000 100,000 105,000 57,500 70,000 64,900 151,800 70,000 119,000 66,000 75,000 280,000 98,500 51,322 87,000 60,000 92,845 111,556 90,000 60,000 110,000 82,125 100,151 168,650 65,000 300,000 73,900 150,000 66,700 88,000 91,000 65,000 287,062 91,509 55,868 306,500 63,000 99,016 55,000 68,000 63,000 73,061 85,000 66,000 215,000 105,000 55,000 116,552 63,019 97,200 55,000 52,250 182,500 385,996 Electrical appliance and equipment — Unknown . Matsqui Golden . ... Cariboo, County of Nanaimo, County of Defective wiring Candle and open flame Unknown... Stores and dwellings Halls - - _ Kamloops Smokers' carelessness, public premises Stores. Prince Rupert Exposure _. ... Apartments Stores and apartments Clubs Vancouver White Rock „_ Stores Railroad rolling-stock Schools and colleges Hotels Gas, natural, improper use or defective equipment Electrical appliance and equipment Incendiary Electrical appliance and equipment.. Unknown .. _ Unknown Sparks from mill burner. Unknown Unknown .. Matsqui Richmond. _ Stewart _ Maple Ridge Kootenay, County of Kootenay, County of Kootenay, County of Victoria... Burnaby... Prince Rupert, County of ... Kamloops New Westminster New Westminster New Westminster Vancouver March Sawmills Restaurants April _ Stores - - Dry-cleaning plants Workshops. Bridges Stores Laboratories (research).... Dwellings May Apartments Schools and colleges Warehouses Sawmills Railroad stations and properties..... .... ..... Stove, combustible material too near Mr.RriHe. Cariboo, County of.... Cariboo, County of._ „ Nanaimo, County of. Vancouver, County of Yale, County of. New Westminster Prince Rupert Vancouver Vancouver Cariboo, County of Nanaimo, County of Kelowna „ Electro-welding equipment Sparks from mill burner Dwellings Motor-vehicle tractor, bulldozer, etc _. - Factories (paint) Apartments.. Clubs Offices. Hotels. ';., _ Dwellings Dwellings Apartments Unknown. Gasoline, broken line Unknown Smokers' carelessness in Unknown . - Incendiary — July Unknown Incendiary Defective wiring Stores and apartments Cariboo, County of Kimberley August— Gasoline stations (service) Gasoline-vapour explosion- Unknown Prince George Vancouver Vancouver ._ . Stores Dwellings— Defective wiring Unknown .... Sparks from mill burner Electrical appliance and Burnaby Delta Sawmills Dwellings ndta Halls... _ Hotels Terrace REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 I 39 TABLE VIII—FIRES WITH LOSS OVER $50,000, 1971—Continued Month Place Classification of Property Cause of Fire Loss Cariboo, County of- Cariboo, County of. Cariboo, County of Cariboo, County of Kootenay, County of Yale, County of Yale, County of. Kamloops ___ Prince George Vancouver Vancouver $ 146,500 Stores__ „ Sawmills Dwellings 140,000 124,708 Sparks from bush fire 57,539 135,100 Motor courts Factories (veneer and ply- 197,000 332,883 September Stores Sawmills Factories (industrial equipment) Warehouses.__ 150,000 Friction in machinery. 114,788 69,890 53,000 195,000 Victoria. Harrison Hot Springs... Apartments Bunkhouses Electrical appliance and 63,000 Smokers' carelessness in 75,000 600,000 Sechelt Prince Rupert, County of... Esquimalt Houston :_ Mackenzie Fort Nelson Nanaimo, County of SheHs Unknown 100,000 Factories (food products) Clubs Stores.— Sawmills ___ _ Stores _ _ Sheds „ „ 350,000 October Incendiary Incendiary._ Weld-cutting equipment, 551,350 66,000 67,160 87,000 150,000 250,000 Vancouver. Vancouver. Churches and church prop- 200,000 99,500 Offices - Schools and colleges Incendiary 115,000 75,000 Nanaimo, County of 115,000 Garages (private) Halls 110,000 Kamloops Kelowna ___ ___ 81,000 Hotels Factories (clothing, cotton 625,000 Vancouver Victoria 119,000 Stores and offices Stores and apartments Dwellings ___ . .. . 60,000 87,155 Unknown Electrical appliance and equipment 51,000 Sawmills 375,000 188,301 Kootenay, County of_ Nanaimo, County of Nanaimo, County of. - Friction in machinery Electrical appliance and equipment Unknown — - Gas, liquid petroleum, ex- 500,000 Halls _ _ 89,000 $90,000 Total 149,000 15,942,434 I 40 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IX—LOSS OF LIFE, 1962-71 Occupancy Number of Fires Causes of Fires Loss of Life Men Women Chlidren Total Aeroplane Apartments- Breweries Bunkhouse.. Dwellings 1 1 57 Garage (public) Hospitals, institutions, nursing homes Hotels Launches Cruise ship~ Motor-vehicles_ Automobiles (6)_ Camper (1)- Outdoors... Railroad rolling-stock— Rooming-houses Sawmill- Smelting plant- Gasoline storage tank- Stores and apartments... Stores and dwelling Trailer (mobile home). Crash (1) Matches (2) — Carelessness (1) Children with (1) Smokers' carelessness (2) — In the home (1)_ While intoxicated and sedated... Stove, combustibles too near (1).. Unknown (1).. Inflammable vapour, ignition of (1) Incendiary (1) Candle carelessness (1) Children playing with fire (1)_ Clothes over light bulb (1) Defective chimney (2) Defective oil-burner (3) Exposure (1).. Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of (1) Gasoline (5)— Carelessness with (1)~ Used to kindle fire (1). Vapour explosion (2)^ Vapour explosion (suicide) (1)_ Incendiary (1)-. Lighter-fluid carelessness (1) — Matches (3)— Carelessness with (1) Children with (2) Smokers' carelessness (22)— In bed (7) In the home (8)_ While intoxicated (7).. Short circuit (1)_ Stove and stovepipes (6)— Combustibles too near (4)_ Defective (1) Overheated (1) Unknown (8).. Oxy-gas welding and cutting (1), Incendiary (murder) (1)_ Smokers' carelessness in public place (2) Incendiary (1). Smokers' carelessness (3)— In bed (1)_ In public place (1) While intoxicated (1) Oil-burner stove exploded (1). Smokers' carelessness (1) Collision (2) Explosion and fire (1) — Motor-vehicle upset (3)_ Vehicle upset (1)_ Clothing caught from bonfire (1) Inflammable vapours, ignition of (1).. Gasoline used for cleaning (1) Smokers' carelessness (3)— Inbed(l)_ In the home (1)_ While intoxicated (1)_ Entered burner to keep warm (1) Explosion of iron-reduction furnace (2).. Gasoline-vapour explosion (1) Unknown (1).. Smokers' carelessness while intoxicated (1) Smokers' carelessness while intoxicated (1) __ 20 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 8 11 8 1 5 1 5 12 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 2 32 2 1 3 3 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 TABLE IX—LOSS OF LIFE, 1962-71—Continued I 41 Occupancy Number of Fires Causes of Fires Loss of Life Men Women Children Total Totals, 1971 95 71 74 81 78 58 71 51 54 69 81 32 54 49 46 39 46 28 35 47 39 28 17 27 25 13 17 9 15 13 33 44 16 24 35 18 28 24 23 38 153 Totals, 1970 . 104 Totals, 1969 87 Totals, 1968 . 100 Totals, 1967 106 Totals, 1966 70 Totals, 1965 91 Totals, 1964 61 Totals, 1963 73 Totals, 1962 98 702 457 203 283 943 ■• ' BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE X—TWENTY-YEAR FIRE LOSS I 42 49 46 43 40 37 34 31 28 25 22 19 16 13 10 7 4 1 1952 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 -— — -ANNUAL DOLLAR LOSS [MILLIONS] -FIRE FATALITIES [TENS] - — -—AVERAGE DOLLAR LOSS PER FIRE [HUNDREDS] .. NUMBER OF FIRES [THOUSANDS] *+' » / * i / 9 • / 4 ■!.■•>• > / ♦ \ * / / / 1 / *v r / / / 1 I r / / ' 1 s 1 1 / ■ * / \ * m** _ . —^ — f / s *»> 1 * / N* \ /!/ V* < 1 / ^- * ^^"* a t vv * / \ \ +' ^v » Si 4 1 * * *' • ^» t ■ V *•«, ^ • s > .«** -^ • ■••j (S .♦* ♦ »♦* ♦ - >*^ c * \ * * s X* .♦* ^ U<* * Printed by K. M. MacDonald, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1973 1,030-1272-9598
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR 1971 British Columbia. Legislative Assembly 1973
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Title | ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR 1971 |
Alternate Title | REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1971 |
Creator |
British Columbia. Legislative Assembly |
Publisher | Victoria, BC : Government Printer |
Date Issued | 1973 |
Genre |
Legislative proceedings |
Type |
Text |
FileFormat | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Identifier | J110.L5 S7 1973_V01_09_I1_I42 |
Collection |
Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Source | Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Date Available | 2019-01-04 |
Provider | Vancouver: University of British Columbia Library |
Rights | Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia |
CatalogueRecord | http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1198198 |
DOI | 10.14288/1.0375899 |
AggregatedSourceRepository | CONTENTdm |
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