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 [
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]
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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.
1973
1,030-1272-9598