THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT STATISTICS, 1957 Printed by Don McDiarmid, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1959 To His Honour Frank Mackenzie Ross, C.M.G., M.C., LL.D., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia. May it please Your Honour: The undersigned has the honour to present the Thirty-sixth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31st, 1957. Victoria, B.C., March 31st, 1958. ROBERT W. BONNER, A ttorney-General. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Report of the Fire Marshal 5 Table I.—Inspections Made and Orders Issued by Local Assistant Fire Marshals 7 Table II.—Fires Reported 8 Construction of Buildings Burned 9 Table III.—Causes of Fires 10 Table IV.—Classification of Property Burned and Causes 12 Table V—Summary 26 Table VI.—Ten-year Comparative Statement of Fire Losses 26 Table VII.—Loss of Life, 1948-57 27 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL Office of the Fire Marshal, Vancouver, B.C., March 31st, 1958. The Honourable Robert W. Bonner, Q.C., Attorney-General, Victoria, B.C. Sir,—I beg to submit herewith the Thirty-sixth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31st, 1957. I am very pleased to report a reduction in the fire loss for the year compared with 1956. There were 7,797 fires with a dollar loss of $14,534,628, showing a reduction of forty-one fires and $774,117. This is in spite of the continuing industrial expansion and increasing population, and may be attributed to an increased fire-prevention effort by all concerned. Unfortunately, the same is not true of the loss of life by fire, which has risen from eighty-five in 1956 to ninety-eight in 1957—forty-five men, twelve women, and forty-one children. A study of Table VII will emphasize the fact that many of these fires are due to carelessness, either with smoking materials or inflammable liquids. Only public education in fire prevention will reduce this loss, and this type of instruction is constantly carried on through members of our staff and fire departments. Eventually it will show results. I am pleased to report that the various regulations under the " Fire Marshal Act" have been amended, removing several obsolete parts, modifying others, and placing additional control where necessary. In this respect we have requested and received eight amendments to the regulations in the last five years, keeping abreast of our rapidly developing Province in respect of fire protection. Our Investigation Branch has had a very active and successful year. There were 302 investigations, with two official inquiries, sixty-one prosecutions for arson and allied crimes, resulting in thirty-nine convictions, two committals, six acquittals, and fourteen cases handled by the Juvenile Courts. Our investigations have involved contacts with widely scattered areas on the continent—Alaska, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and, through the International Police Organization, even to Fiji. There were also thirteen prosecutions under the " Fire Marshal Act " and regulations. Our Inspectors made many inspections during the year and supervised our 290 Local Assistant Fire Marshals, who made 86,684 inspections and issued 975 orders to remedy fire-hazards. Our travelling fire department instruction units carried their instruction to 123 fire departments, giving each eighteen hours of instruction. Local organizations have continued to improve training and equipment, and new areas have requested assistance in organizing fire departments. Our units also gave help in fighting fire in three different areas in the Province during the year. Our engineering service continues to provide the engineering and architectural professions with advice in accord with the " Fire Marshal Act" and regulations and has examined innumerable plans relating thereto. Also, advice has been given relative to oil-burners, compressed-gas burners, approval of construction and installation of oil- refineries, tank-farms, and service-stations. Our responsibility under the theatre regulations resulted in thirty-eight examinations for projectionists and approval of six theatre construction and installation plans. In the interest of fire-prevention, members of the staff have attended innumerable meetings of the various fire-prevention associations and councils. Indicative of the quality of the instruction provided by this office are the many requests for service from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. These services have requested and received special instruction. 5 M 6 BRITISH COLUMBIA We have also acted and given advice on a multitude of committees, such as the following: Canadian Standards Association, Underwriters' Laboratories, Canadian Underwriters, National Research Council, National Building Code, and National Fire Code. We also assisted in the reconstruction of three municipal by-laws and, on request for advice, reviewed many others. My thanks are due to the members of the various fire and police departments, the National Harbours Board, Civil Defence organizations, and my own staff for their sincere and excellent help and co-operation during the past year. Also, may I thank members of the police forces throughout the Province, Local Assistant Fire Marshals, and insurance companies and their adjusters for their co-operation. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, B. NIXON, Fire Marhsal. REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 7 TABLE I.—INSPECTIONS MADE AND ORDERS ISSUED BY LOCAL ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHALS City Municipalities (37) District Municipalities (30) Village Municipalities (55) Inspections Orders Inspections Orders 33 92 78 56 52 50 12 420 11 1,333 613 11 1,264 929 15 1 1 1 3 2 8 5 3 22 6,999 2,354 321 672 130 2,404 35,088 237 12,491 84 289 2 8 8 Kaslo _ Trail 13 64 31 White Rock 82 65,734 558 5,330 558 104 176 699 134 67 16 738 2,288 171 190 1,173 894 65 110 6 Oak Bay 5 15 Delta.. .. Richmond ' 6 84 Spallumcheen- Sumas .. . Kent. Surrey Tadanac 5 Maple Ridge Mission — ... Totals 12,630 204 16 451 69 32 314 57 30 29 39 15 50 435 4 26 12 1 2 27 3 45 20 109 20 424 138 56 99 4 Alert Bay , Montrose Osoyoos -— Parksville. Pemberton.... _ 2 Comox. Fort St. John. Quesnel Salmo Sechelt G ibsons Lan ding Harrison Hot Springs Hazelton Silverton Smithers _ 122 Houston _ Invermere — Stewart . Telkwa. T.-Trace Tofino _ 3 Kinnaird Warfield 1 4 McBride. - - Zeballos Totals 1 2,482 178 M 8 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE I.—INSPECTIONS MADE AND ORDERS ISSUED BY LOCAL ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHALS—Continued Fire Districts (19) Inspections Orders Inspections Orders 46 6 145 72 1,608 7 5 13 1 Prince RuDert. County of 21 3,650 252 38 5 Colwood District Lot 172— Sooke 4 Vernon View Royal _. Totals... 5,838 35 1957 Inspect ... 86,6 on !4 5 3 54 .5 .3 !1 !6 il 8 Orders 975 1956— 80,1^ 875 1955 ... 78,5- 825 1954 ... _.. 78.2 801 1953 .. 78,8 562 1952 80,5' 345 1951 . 82,3' 644 1950 82,5' 1,206 1949 . 85,0 1,649 Grand totals. 1948 ,.,..... 83.9 1.976 TABLE IL—FIRES REPORTED City Municipalities (37) District Reporting Number Amount of Loss District Reporting Number Amount of Loss 17 3 32 27 13 8 37 5 15 9 5 46 91 31 17 11 11 121 $3,300 452 14,609 4,479 6,531 5,155 7,209 4,621 151,321 19,071 28,199 31,464 Nelson 34 186 100 64 43 21 13 61 55 20 10 11 1 44 2,363 32 479 14 $8,133 112,758 76,487 Penticton 277,616 30,530 13,411 Duncan . Port Moody 13,472 74,455 132,834 11,417 Rossland ... 16,302 Kamloops 4,017 1,000 39,169 59,579 3,584 29,315 30,868 54,663 Trail . . 13,518 Kimberley . . 2,664,737 93,031 Langley 740,159 White Rock . 12,430 Nanaimo Totals 4,050 $4,789,896 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 TABLE II.—FIRES REPORTED—Continued District Municipalities (30) M 9 District Reporting Number Amount of Loss District Reporting Number Amount of Loss Burnaby Central Saanich.. Chilliwhack Coldstream Coquitlam Delta Esquimau Fraser Mills Glenmore. Kent Kitimat Langley. Maple Ridge Matsqui Mission North Cowichan 392 13 48 9 60 47 71 6 10 9 40 51 37 35 22 42 $322,634 10,300 46,843 119,079 27,819 71,985 32,247 10,466 5,749 14,397 35,154 97,102 81,760 74,442 111,067 57,344 North Vancouver- Oak Bay Peachland Pitt Meadows Powell River Richmond Saanich Salmon Arm... Spallumcheen.. Sumas _ _. Summerland—. Surrey.. Tadanac West Vancouver Totals.. 192 127 1 48 157 294 10 1 8 7 275 42 143 $352,735 14,913 39 55,087 109,751 106,965 15,559 7,000 5,659 727,621 534,576 10,252 165,362 2,197 $3,223,907 Fire Districts (19) Village Municipalities (55) 5 3 4 3 22 2 5 5 8 43 1 4 5 4 2 1 22 1 7 10 7 2 2 $1,112 21,912 11,292 11,630 2,831 20 89 4,522 6,095 116,955 28,698 23,850 6,821 13,039 112 75 47,256 10 1 1 17 10 5 6 1 6 8 19 2 1 8 12 4 1 2 12 3 1 4 7 7 1 $23,355 Alert Bay Montrose 91 30 10,434 27,977 2,017 Parksville _ ~ Pemberton 7,512 169 9,011 3,213 Fort St. John Quesnel Salmo Sechelt Sidney Silverton Smithers... Squamish 27,181 Fruitvale . . 80 76 Golden. 697 Hazelton Hope - 19,648 3,970 667 Invermere.. . . 100 Telkwa 145 28,516 Kinnaird „ 1,921 6,091 9,106 4,001 Tofino Ucluelet. _ Vanderhoof. W-rfieTrl 771 2,887 Lillooet 1,575 748 2,712 818 15 Marysville Totals 317 $491,843 Cariboo, County of Colwood District Lot 172.. Ioco Kelowna.. Kootenay, County of- Langford. Nanaimo, County of... Ocean Falls Prince George _ Prince Rupert, County of 300 18 5 29 142 31 209 14 70 $2,537,075 4,350 179 23,346 678,468 17,112 560,294 11,552 368,874 Sooke University Area Vancouver, County of- Vernon Victoria, County of.. View Royal- Westminster, County of.. Yale, County of Totals- Grand totals 13 68 76 12 42 204 1,233 7,797 $17,509 318,340 112,023 101,731 303,282 974,847 $6,028,982 $14,534,628 Construction of Buildings Burned Fire-resistive _ Brick, concrete, or heavy timber. Wood frame .. Metal or corrugated iron. Totals.. 7,797 Amount of Loss $136,561 1,396,760 11,923,643 1,077,664 $14,534,628 M 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE III.—CAUSES OF FERES Causes of Fires Number Amount of Loss Aeroplane crash _ Ammunition exploding _ Boilers or boiler-pipes defective or overheated.. Candles and open flames _ Children playing with fire.. _.. Chimneys- Defective or overheated- Sparks from Collision Defective battery connection- Defective brooder Defective muffler Defective wiring Dust explosion.. Electrical appliances and equipment, improper use of appliance or defective equipment _ Electri-welding equipment, sparks from.. Engine back-firing Exposure _ Film, defective Fireplaces— Defective _ _ _ Sparks from.. Fireworks.. Friction— In brake-drum In conveyer-belt- In machinery In pulley In tires Furnaces or furnace-pipes— Combustible materials too near- Defective. Insufficiently protected.. Sparks from Gas, liquefied petroleum— Explosion. Improper installation of appliance Improper use of or defective equipment- Gas, natural— Explosion .. Improper installation of appliance Improper use of or defective equipment- Gasoline— Broken line Carelessness with.. On exhaust-pipe . Pump damaged by motor-vehicle.. Stoves, lamps, torches Used in cleaning— — _.. Used to kindle fire Vapour explosion Heat radiation — Hot ashes, coals, etc Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of.. Incendiary.. Inflammable vapours, ignition of (paints, thinners, varnishes, etc.).. Kerosene— Carelessness with _ Stoves, lamps, torches... Used to kindle fire Lightning- Matches— Carelessness with.. Children with 228 89 14 295 7 4 13 1 13 28 12 49 19 11 3 6 16 1 12 30 58 21 5 33 3 8 38 2 12 2 69 192 1 1 9 56 18 317 19 2 4 1 43 2 458 4 72 134 1 309 38 38 108 20 29 196 15 76 298 101 36 16 12 261 $300,617 93,861 $14,560 66,052 $596 273,344 469,281 2,225 12,051 $13,019 8,457 85,989 76,973 $24,305 11,199 35,672 $256,532 516 8,402 $44,878 151,715 19,900 1,515 49,606 473 16,604 63,574 $5,918 57,281 420 $14,100 129,400 $4,000 2,347 25,626 26,846 14,514 394,478 22,123 68 283 78 75,428 816 165,627 15,114 46,833 247,605 392 80,612 7,598 757,497 184,438 71,176 265,450 348,265 7,315 440,529 252,106 169,938 425,641 63,619 32,926 143,500 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 TABLE III.—CAUSES OF FIRES—Continued M 11 Causes of Fires Number Amount of Loss 2 79 56 66 1 19 2 44 373 1,916 31 470 7 165 23 9 172 46 1 13 204 65 512 2,797 105 10 7 8 20 22 415 35 888 7,797 $439 54,020 82,643 24,719 315 $25 24,570 Oil-burners— 162,136 Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment— $29,141 355 754.509 784,005 726,782 $118,178 262,468 84,914 224,867 5,516 Smokers' carelessness— 695,943 96,068 157,519 29,223 $91,806 24,511 4,706 348,712 94,944 Sparks from engine 168,958 372,665 54,063 Stoves or stove-pipes— Defective Sparks from 564,679 49,706 6,355,498 Thawing pipes Unknown Totals $14,534,628 M 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES Property Causes Amount of Loss Aircraft Apartments 257 Armouries Bakeries ._ Banks Barker-shops Barges and scows . Bams and stables . 1 43 Barracks Bath-houses Blacksmith-shops Boarding-houses Boat-building works Aeroplane crash Unknown Candles and open flames ... Chimneys— Defective or overheated . Sparks from .._. Electrical appliances Fireplace, sparks from Furnace, defective Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper use of or defective equipment Gas, natural, improper use of or defective equipment Gasoline-vapour explosion Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of Incendiary Inflammable vapours, ignition of . Lightning Matches— Carlessness with Children with Oil-burners— Defective Defective equipment Explosion Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Short circuit _ Smokers' In bed ' carelessness- In the home In unlisted locations . While intoxicated . Spontaneous ignition Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near . Insufficiently protected Sparks from Unknown Smokers' carelessness .. Electrical appliances Exposure . __ Matches, children with Oil-burners— Defective equipment Explosion Unknown Smokers' carelessness Defective wiring Exposure Smokers' carelessness Electrical appliances Incendiary Matches— Carelessness with Children with Oil-burner, defective Short circuit Smokers' carelessness - Spontaneous ignition Unknown Short circuit Short circuit Stove insufficiently protected Oxv-gas welding or cutting equipment, carelessness with Defective wiring . Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from 1 Smoking in bed 1 Unknown 2 $4,000 73 $3,654 19,402 16,114 3,786 211 75 191 5,356 2,126 10,200 1,727 590 16,395 156 1,318 865 777 130 67 2,475 1,307 24,320 8,419 150 50 435 36 162 24,823 $1,924 525 372 23,608 131 444 $343 21 27 $397 3,073 13,650 700 1,180 932 7,433 95 40,525 111,113 $3,407 280 $4,073 145,317 105 27,004 75 391 3,973 179,098 60 3,687 151 58 27,350 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 13 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Boat-houses Bottling-works Bowling-alleys Breweries Bridges Buildings under construction-. .. | Bunk-houses Canneries, fish Canneries, fruit Canneries, poultry . Chemical plants Clubs Club-houses (golf, yacht, etc.).. Coal and lumber yards 15 12 Churches and church property.. 12 Gasoline, carelessness with Incendiary _ Unknown Sparks from bonfire _ Electrical appliances Short circuit Smokers' carelessness . Unknown Chimney, sparks from . Electrical appliances Matches, children with . Electro-welding equipment, sparks from . Gasoline-vapour explosion Incendiary Inflammable vapours, ignition of Kerosene carelessness Lightning Matches, children with . Oil-burner, defective . Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, carelessness with . Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near . I Insufficiently protected Sparks from j Unknown .__ Chimney, defective . Gasoline— Carelessness with . Lamp Oil-burning equipment, defective . Short circuit Smokers' In bed carelessness- While intoxicated ... Stove, sparks from Unknown.. _ Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Incendiary Hot grease, ignition of — Inflammable vapours, ignition of Friction in conveyer-belt Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Candle carelessness . Chimney, defective .. Exposure Furnaces or furnace-pipes— Combustible materials too near . Sparks from Gas, natural, improper use of . Matches, children with Sparks from bonfire . Stove insufficiently protected Unknown Exposure Hot grease, ignition of . Smokers' carelessness „. Unknown Smokers' carelessness Friction in conveyer-belt Gasoline, carelessness with Incendiary Sparks from bonfire $1,290 805 150 $213 130 65,402 36,163 $200 2,000 $1,282 447 1,040 8,893 1,100 161 23 2,000 1,700 723 14,541 238 111,472 $538 300 2,182 1,728 5,810 41 700 10,368 8,437 $1,490 206 $757 12 $272,834 70 $3,210 1,754 259 45 84 241 40 60 25 35,113 $5,605 234 91 525 $300 461 5,042 3,721 $2,245 150 101,908 50 2,200 143,620 30,104 1,696 132 769 272,904 40,831 6,455 62 M 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 46 17 189 71 19 358 53 1 14 287 23 1 23 10 37 13 4 2 1 13 1 6 18 21 1 7 3 10 54 249 28 18 1 8 2 3 50 121 1 49 30 53 $200 11,252 Unknown Short circuit _ Gasoline-vapour explosion Chimney, defective $20,976 50 $20,039 2,000 Compressors 1 2 267 1 . . 5 22,039 446 Cranes $2,448 2,304 30 281 1,886 Chimneys— Defective „ „ ... . 10 Oil-burner explosion Short circuit Unknown Boiler, defective 6,949 $405 205 443 571 100 8,297 18,729 4,826 F.lprtriral -ppli-n. p« Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Unknown _ Candles and open flames 28,750 Dwellings $18,914 14,509 182,499 71,631 59,061 82,629 85,263 392 14,560 65,782 3,612 130 12,629 5,882 46,053 61,092 10,134 9,599 160 11,992 516 1,299 21,663 41,962 15 16,478 4,102 6,943 419,233 82,273 63,619 22,450 5,531 14,581 420 11,892 4,522 76,157 376 15,491 16,008 21,668 Chimneys— Defective or overheated Defective wiring Electrical appliances Fireplaces— Sparks from . Friction in machinery Furnaces or furnace-pipes— Combustible materials too near Insufficiently protected — Sparks from Gas, liquefied petroleum— Improper installation of appliance . Gas, natural— Explosion ■ Gasoline— ! Stoves, lamps, torches — s I Kerosene— 1 Matches— Carelessness with Children with Oil-burners— Explosion - REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 15 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Amount of Loss Electrical repair-shops Electrical substations Electric-light plants Electric-light and telephone poles Engines Factories, paper-box Factories, rag . Factories, rock-wool insulation- Factories, sash and door Factories, sausage Factories, veneer and plywood- Factories, wooden-box Fences i Fertilizer plants Fire and police stations Fish-curing plants Fishing-boats Factories, brick . 1 Factories, candy — -. 1 Factories, clothing 1 Factories, furniture ..... 4 Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment- Carelessness with Sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness— In bed In the home In unlisted locations . While intoxicated Sparks from bonfire — Sparks from bush fire — Spontaneous ignition Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near . Defective . Explosion Insufficiently protected Sparks from Thawing pipes — Unknown Oil-burning equipment, defective Smokers' carelessness Short circuit . Unknown Lightning Short circuit Sparks from engine . Unknown Short circuit Gasoline-line, Incendiary ... Short circuit Unknown broken Unknown Electrical appliances Short circuit Friction in machinery . Short circuit Smokers' carelessness , Unknown Electrical appliances Short circuit Spontaneous ignition Unknown Electrical appliances — Matches, children with Smokers' carelessness .. Electrical appliances — Unknown — Exposure Short circuit Unknown Incendiary Unknown .. Ammunition exploding . Oil-burners— Defective equipment . Explosion Unknown Engine back-firing ... Gasoline— Broken line _ Stove Vapour explosion 1 2 . 147 .. 213 .1,741 .. 38 1 .. 57 2 .. 10 .. 142 .. 20 7 .. 131 .. 35 .. 19 .. 344 1 2 $47 91 148,276 23,561 219,991 11,774 40 26,390 1,522 8,337 62,177 23,875 594 226,112 38,739 4,485 1,013,442 $175 60 $88,389 154 $2,277 1,355 145 3,002 $3,413,175 235 88,543 $368 75 310 928 $458 58,288 3,014 300 $6,000 128,260 $25 7,585 noi 50 25 $100 65,099 $2,347 77 116 $5,072 150 1,300 17,420 6,779 25 1,681 1,277 111 45 134,260 35 617 7,610 54 65 111,421 176 65,199 2,540 5,381 M 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Foundries Fruit-packing plants . Funeral chapels - Garages, private Garages, public 33 Gasoline-stations, self-service Gasoline-stations, service Causes Matches, carelessness with Oil-burner, defective . Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Stove insufficiently protected Unknown Furnaces or furnace-pipes- Insufficiently protected ... Sparks from Sparks from bonfire _ Sparks from grinder Unknown Incendiary Unknown Inflammable vapours, ignition of Defective wiring Electrical appliances Exposure Fireworks Gasoline, carelessness with Hot ashes, coals, etc Incendiary Inflammable vapours, ignition of . Matches, children with . Oil-burning equipment, defective Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bonfire Stove, combustible materials too near Unknown Chimney, defective Exposure Furnace, sparks from Gasoline— Carelessness with Vapour explosion Inflammable vapours, ignition of Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment- Carelessness with Defective „ _ Sparks from _ Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from grinder Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near . Insufficiently protected Unknown — Pump damaged by motor-vehicle Chimney, sparks from Defective wiring — Exposure Gasoline— Carelessness with - Pump damaged by motor-vehicle . Vapour explosion Matches— Carelessness with Children with Motor-vehicle upset Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, carelessness with Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Stove insufficiently protected Thawing pipes Unknown 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 7 6 1 13 1 Amount of Loss $1,200 200 1,000 4,415 834 3,900 9,323 $88 14,348 108 2,409 2,397 $23 724,157 $2,207 650 295 483 2,249 1,643 3,978 10 2,519 4,691 11,291 2,584 2,112 25 42,062 $2,534 375 1,280 72,878 6,520 356,572 270 100 55 8,115 18 23 74 282 509,189 $47 8,046 12,558 1,149 1,025 1,545 5 95 350 200 518 707 530 6,014 66,441 $44,814 19,350 724,180 59 76,799 958,285 490 99,230 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 17 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Grandstands ____- __ Gravel pits and plants . Greenhouses Halls 15 Hay stacks and balers Hospitals and institutions 21 Hotels 145 Laboratories, soil-testing Launches Laundries Libraries Lime plants . Logging camps Unknown Short circuit Stove insufficiently protected Unknown Electrical appliances _ Furnace insufficiently protected - Gas, liquefied petroleum, defective equipment . Hot ashes, coals, etc , Matches, children with . Oil-burner explosion i Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Spontaneous ignition Stove insufficiently protected . Unknown — Engine back-firing ... Sparks from engine Unknown ._ Candles and open flames . Chimney, sparks from ..... Electrical appliances Incendiary - Matches, children with . Short circuit Smokers' carelessness— In bed — In unlisted locations Unknown Candles and open flames . Chimney, defective Defective wiring Electrical appliances Exposure Fireplace, sparks from Furnace insufficiently protected Hot grease, ignition of Incendiary _ Oil-burners— Defective Defective equipment ._ Short circuit Smokers' carelessness— In bed In unlisted locations _ Sparks from bonfire . Stove insufficiently protected . Unknown Short circuit Engine back-firing Gasoline-vapour explosion Oil-burning equipment, defective Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Spontaneous ignition Unknown Boiler, defective Electrical appliances Unknown Dust explosion Dust explosion Friction in pulley Gasoline-line, broken Kerosene, carelessness with Short circuit Sparks from bonfire Sparks from bush fire Sparks from engine $278 60 $78 97 32,567 8,616 750 239 20 112 335 20,300 562 $25 700 900 $85 409 99 110 20 49 2,023 1,298 4,049 $227 45 48 140 1,100 37 2,619 4,116 76 150 255 7,548 14,743 3,718 246 75 198,795 $725 12,794 400 450 25 200 5,975 $439 1,769 116 $2,225 13,000 40,000 3,703 37,722 146,688 1,685 $35 8,100 338 63,676 1,625 8,142 233,938 23,000 20,569 2,324 84 732 M 18 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss . 15 1 3 4 71 678 Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near 1 1 $300 3,152 83,196 Unknown 7 1 $331,671 Machine-shops — . . $500 100 83 36,051 4,000 255 27,252 125 4,500 1,786 9,355 Electrical appliances 1 1 1 1 Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment— 1 Sparks from Short circuit 5 1 1 1 Unknown Hot grease Oil-burning equipment, defective 1 1 1 2 84,007 16,000 $160 259,825 . ... 1 259,985 $567 114,133 Unknown 3 6 114,700 $174 22 306 182 1,954 40 283 100 132 654 3,426 155 184 3,397 4,061 86 900 2,002 8,547 1 3 Gas, liquefied petroleum— Explosion - 1 1 Gas, natural, explosion of 1 1 Heat radiation 1 3 2 Oil-burners— Defective 4 2 8 Smokers' carelessness— 26 j 1 Stoves or stove-pipes— Defective — - 1 1 .. . 2 Motor-vehicles (953*)— Automobiles, passenger Unknown Collision — Defective battery connection 6 14 1 1 26,605 $11,436 20 78 1,311 1,365 5,907 2,777 111 32 683 1,573 4,238 402 74 202 272 1,057 10,134 153 6,354 225 4,820 Defective wiring 13 8 38 14 1 Friction—■ 2 7 Gasoline— 9 8 6 1 3 4 3 .. .. 15 2 Matches— 6 Children with _ _ .. .. Motor-vehicle upset . 3 . . . 5 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 19 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Motor-vehicles—Continued Buses Motor-cycles 16 Tractors m Trucks 183 Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bonfire Sparks from bush fire Thawing pipes Unknown Collision Friction in brake-drum Gasoline, carelessness with . Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Unknown Engine back-firing ... Fireworks Gasoline— Broken line On exhaust-pipe ... Vapour explosion Incendiary Motor-cycle upset ... Short circuit Defective wiring Electrical appliances Engine back-firing ._.. Exposure — Gasoline— Broken line Carelessness with „ „ On exhaust-pipe Vapour explosion Inflammable vapours, ignition of . Matches, children with . Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment- Carelessness with Sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bush fire Tractor upset Unknown Chimney, sparks from Collision Defective battery connection . Defective wiring _. Engine back-firing _ Exposure Friction— In brake-drum In tires Gas, liquefied petroleum- Explosion . Improper use of or defective equipment . Gasoline— Broken line Carelessness with On exhaust-pipe Vapour explosion Hot ashes, coals, etc. Incendiary 4 199 222 2 1 1 85 $246 46,983 31,226 243 40 350 16,987 $149,299 $481 90 155 150 39 2,362 $3,277 $1,353 55 124 100 270 10 100 30 $2,042 $45 2,150 3,593 1,884 16,031 7,126 650 949 1,000 121 184 11,155 23,545 180 800 425 42,882 $112,720 $1,000 10,060 48 3,320 14,782 12,977 95 630 518 366 12,897 3,559 18,748 729 190 661 M 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes 3 Matches— 1 2 1 1 48 13 1 1 2 5 34 1 1 1 7 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 11 2 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 12 $400 40 126 225 46,950 2,244 8,469 7,160 2,465 18,875 41,367 Children with 1 Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment— Sparks from j Smokers' carelessness ~ .... Unknown j Gasoline, carelessness with _ .. $208,901 *$476,239 $6,751 300 1,804 45 2 Stove insufficiently protected .. . Unknown Electrical appliances __ j 8,855 Offices $1,352 631 74 256 50 7,566 53 105 1,146 189 685 774 1,773 50,751 119 81 243 1,033 10,537 Hot ashes, coals, etc Hot grease Incendiary _. Oil-burners— Defective Defective equipment Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment— Carelessness with „ Sparks from [ Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bonfire . Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near I 77,418 $450 3,118 1 Gas, natural, explosion of 3,568 240,000 $8,030 150 187 979 50 9,055 12 1 Incendiary ,' — Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks f rom. Smokers' carelessness Electrical appliances Hot grease ~ Unknown Unknown Smokers' carelessness - Defective brooder 18,451 8,116 $50 17,826 Piggeries 2 1 1 17,876 16,956 200 Poolrooms $283 500 117 270 1,450 75 504 20 70 42,193 Poultry-houses 25 9 Gasoline carelessness Inflammable vapours, ignition of ~ .. Oil-burning equipment, defective Sparks from bonfire Unknown 45,482 1 2 $20 2,800 Short circuit REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 21 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Power-saws Printing plants Pumps and pump-houses . 11 Railroad rolling-stock . 10 Railroad stations and properties Refineries, sugar Restaurants Rinks, ice-skating Rock-crushers Rooming-houses .... Unknown Gasoline-line, broken Sparks from bonfire Electrical appliances Oil-burner, defective Unknown Candles and open flames Gasoline— Carelessness with Vapour explosion . Kerosene, carelessness with . Lightning Short circuit Sparks from bonfire Thawing pipes Unknown Collision Incendiary Smokers' carelessness _ Stove, combustible materials too near Unknown Furnace insufficiently protected Sparks from bonfire Unknown Short circuit Chimney, defective Electrical appliances Gas, liquefied petroleum, improper installation of appliance _ — _ Gas, natural, improper use of equipment Hot ashes Hot grease Inflammable vapours, ignition of Lightning _ Matches— Carelessness with Children with _ Oil-burner, defective Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near Insufficiently protected _ Sparks from Thawing pipes Unknown Electrical appliances — — Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Chimneys— Defective or overheated Sparks from Electrical appliances Exposure Furnace insufficiently protected Gasoline carelessness Hot ashes Hot grease Incendiary Matches, children with Smokers' carelessness— In bed In the home In unlisted locations . While intoxicated Sparks from bonfire 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 30 27 3 1 2 $33,139 $725 164 $1,206 75 5,803 $10 422 900 387 386 500 935 300 850 $146 50 15,466 300 6,906 1,666 15,000 4,175 $537 6,834 1,600 1,250 5,875 60,277 22,931 1,200 451 715 566 150 12,862 1,570 25 21,607 61 10,553 $637 15 210 382 60 53 50 148 101 100 4,168 7,276 210 40 134 $35,959 889 7,084 4,690 22,868 20,841 1,607 149,064 75 351 M 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Sawmills Schools 93 25 Sheds Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near Insufficiently protected Unknown _ Boilers or boiler-pipes, defective or overheated . Electrical appliances Electro-welding equipment, sparks from Exposure Friction in machinery Gasoline— Carelessness with Vapour explosion . Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of . Incendiary Lightning Oil-burning equipment, defective Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment- Carelessness with Sparks from Short circuit Sparks from engine Sparks from mill burner Stove insufficiently protected Unknown Candles and open flames .. Chimney, sparks from Electrical appliances Furnaces or furnace-pipes Defective Insufficiently protected .. Incendiary Inflammable vapours, ignition of . Matches, children with Oil-burners— Defective Defective equipment _ Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment- Carelessness with Sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Unknown _. Boiler, defective Children playing with fire Chimney, sparks from Electrical appliances Exposure Friction in conveyer-belt Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion of . Gasoline— Lamp Vapour explosion .. Hot ashes, coals, etc. Incendiary Inflammable vapours, ignition of . Matches, children with Oil-burners— Defective Explosion Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bonfire _ Sparks from grinder — Spontaneous ignition Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near . Defective $35 6,018 2,488 $19,135 8,567 749 3,127 456,348 27,729 2,661 16,000 8,500 460 3,574 16,500 639,914 17,477 26,693 360,046 14,836 995,283 $746 70 3,199 2,500 20,434 700 100 55 934 270 1,392 5,830 565 1,642 112,461 Insufficiently protected $5,097 5 2,640 115 1,356 100 1,102 20 850 89 395 585 19,847 530 853 79 5,185 852 2,726 150 425 814 500 4,277 $22,125 2,617,599 150,898 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 M 23 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Sheet-metal works Shingle-mills — 13 Ships .. 2 Shipyards .____: 2 Smelting plants _ 37 Steel-fabricating plants Stores 203 Sparks from Thawing pipes Unknown Hot ashes, coals, etc. Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, carelessness with . Sparks from grinder Boiler, defective Friction in machinery — Sparks from grinder Sparks from mill burner Spontaneous ignition Unknown Boiler, defective or overheated . Unknown — Smokers' carelessness Unknown Defective wiring Electrical appliances Friction in machinery Furnaces or furnace-pipes- Insufficiently protected _ Sparks from Gasoline— Broken line Stoves, lamps, torches Inflammable vapours, ignition of Lightning ..... .. Matches, carelessness with Molten metal Oil-burner, defective Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment- Carelessness with Sparks from — Short circuit :.. Furnace insufficiently protected Unknown Electrical appliances Exposure Fireworks Furnace insufficiently protected Gas, natural, explosion of Gasoline, carelessness with — Hot grease, oil, tar, etc., ignition of. Incendiary Matches— Carelessness with Children with Oil-burners— Defective Defective equipment Explosion — Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bonfire Sparks from grinder Spontaneous ignition Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near Explosion Insufficiently protected Sparks from Thawing pipes Unknown 50 $1,086 206 84,959 $449 50 1,529 $50 2,334 163,323 4.809 1,556 82,870 $500 1,119 $342 65,275 $150 160 175 250 95 10 140 50 155 23 25 300 1,125 45 995 $9,890 3,053 $509 18,644 2,214 4,832 4,500 367 478 56,690 66 10,313 9,565 6,693 996 33,605 72,451 1,671 644 2,600 85 167 38,782 40 496 251,242 $134,843 2,028 254,942 1,619 3,698 12,943 517,650 M 24 BRITISH COLUMBIA TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY BURNED AND CAUSES—Continued Property Causes Amount of Loss Stores and apartments ._. 49 Stores and dwellings Stores and offices Stores and rooms 38 Tanneries 1 Tar-pots _ 3 Telephone exchanges 1 Tents - 4 Theatres Chimney, defective Electrical appliances ~ Exposure Fireworks _ Hot ashes, coals, etc. Incendiary Matches, children with Oil-burners— Defective _ Defective equipment Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment, sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Stoves or stove-pipes— Defective Insufficiently protected _. Sparks from Unknown Chimney, defective Electrical appliances _ Exposure Gas, liquefied petroleum, explosion of . Gasoline carelessness Incendiary Matches, carelessness with Oil-burning equipment, defective Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Stoves or stove-pipes— Combustible materials too near . Explosion Insufficiently protected Unknown Electrical appliances Oil-burners— Defective Sparks from Smokers' carelessness Sparks from bonfire Stove, combustible materials too near Thawing pipes Unknown Chimneys— Defective Sparks from Electrical appliances Exposure Hot grease Inflammable vapours, ignition of . Oil-burners— Broken line Defective Short circuit Smokers' carelessness Stove insufficiently protected Thawing pipes _ Unknown Friction in machinery Hot tar, ignition of Unknown Chimney, sparks from _ Gasoline carelessness _ Smoking while intoxicated _. Stove insufficiently protected . Chimney, defective .... Exposure Smokers' carelessness $50,202 15 30,653 1,123 334 50 150 15,642 57 41 2,196 87,056 50 51 17,552 13,377 $18,439 2,688 17,500 269 166 2,067 73 20,090 3,068 498 24,787 3,945 9,827 95,579 $384 482 315 66 35 400 31,581 24,875 $22 106 25,500 4,377 52,009 5,163 63 1,143 85 1,575 4,666 296 153,385 $270 50 250 250 $345 460 50 $218,549 198,996 58,138 248,390 1,446 809 868 820 855 REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 TABLE IV.—CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY AND CAUSES—Continued M 25 BURNED Property Causes Amount of Loss Trailers and semi-trailers — 11 Trailers, house 22 Tug-boats 8 l l 4 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 15 1 1 2 3 1 1 ! i i i i 3 .7,797 $357 379 10,644 1,315 483 367 6,750 Friction— Thawing pipes Unknown $94 12,100 434 1,393 3,081 461 182 2,170 487 2,370 5,764 322 5,306 Gas, liquefied petroleum— Defective equipment _ , _ Gasoline— Carelessness with Stove _ Oil-burners—■ Defective $15,376 11,400 12,692 6,000 23,500 Warehouses 37 Short circuit - - Smoking in bed ,, $1,153 13,000 9,526 110 360 5,500 4,630 391 100 69 2,564 57,500 143 946 880 50 419,091 Electro-welding equipment, sparks from „ Friction— In machinery Oil-burners— Defective _ _„ Explosion Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment— Sparks from Short circuit Smokers' carelessness . Thawing pipes , Unknown ... 52 $230 325 9,376 1,169 6,477 Exposure —_ Oxy-gas welding or cutting equipment— Short circuit $176 30 39 126 150 962 112,682 Totals 7,797 Furnace, combustible materials too near Oil-burning equipment, defective _ Unknown $14,534,628 M 26 BRITISH COLUMBIA ft< < m CQ < o in O On r* Ts in O O f cn or vor-oor— 0n On 00 Q CN tvotminrJmtM'intn V5- CA (« M or-.-Hr--3-inTj-i-<^f,3-ONr- m 313 Ntrrr~inmcovDNQo\vOvoin ooo — »— m —'TrOTfcNOr- o 00 c D O E < >|1 ON OvcNr-or- On m •jr.H'rt O on cn ■—'r-NOoomcninOm CN CN — Ov CN (N CN T|- i-i cn <—' CN (rt ONM^NOooTfinoomov^t'^- cotj-oinovNW'jf.inOm NO Ov >>.H.H cn mo ** NoooOcN^r-^NDO ura Ov' a* vo* f- t oo oo oo o r- m rf 00 r~ t^ &^ r- o H oomrnoom'tCNooNONor-t-- On ocNovoinin*nin"nNot-Nor- Ih 1_Ov movoooovr-ovo — ■too- m —■ .-h i— ri tH %—i CN Q '~l ■a u a HJ p. 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XI __ H 5 ft ci s -j- C < 1 > E a < fc a I a. •5 o t > c e CJ c W on oo O hJ s o H W < H oo W > H < Pi < ft. % O u ft< < I W H W pq < oomocNO%—NONo t- On O On vDr-vDC-tCNI'MNr- 'TT ttcoovr-om^rcNvor- tn _-) t moo»o\coM*h oo «■ (rt o H r^cocn^tONCNONinT-irj- CN osmTj-ONCNNOooi>vO'^- cn u tT ft NO cNOr-CNcnOoocncncc NO Ov ^r w tn ca OCNNOOOCN"nNOOOOONO VO CJ -J voNO^rmcncnmcNCNCN On Vi 0 4) •t5 ft mNOONOONOOCNNOOOCN cNCN — ONONOovONr-r* cn OJ ft cnvooO'-HNOr-'-'NONOov cn TfmoNVooNOOoor^r. i-i CN ON O OO CN O ON — cNO-^-ONt-cnmNO tn a hJ t& u V* | 3 U r^mmt—ovmNooNONrn _1 rn ri'—OmNomcNooNo OJ cncncncncNcNCNCN'-1*-' •J .tn CN > ft r-iomnoohtvooH ONCN^OOcnOvCOCNNONO mhooiHHinvOTfOi-i fNtHlr.lCOr.TfTj-fN hJ 5 f& 1 r^ONNOooNomO'*inoo t- u — ONOoc-M--^-mTr-->o Ov t/i in p ft NomcNNOrnt^mi—iOcn V} oo^cNt-^rnTroNONOOTr '* hJ a tJ-TfcnmcNTj-CNCNCNCN kPr 1 O'—minONor^r^cNr* m m r- r- r- o no — o r- l-H ft U tj- tt tj- ^t cn ■* ■^t ^ ^ cn O r r h r- NT m ■<* C IN -— c (Tv on o> O Os ON o O o o O Os REPORT OF FIRE MARSHAL, 1957 TABLE VII.—LOSS OF LIFE, 1948-57 M 27 Occupancy Number of Fires Cause of Fire Loss of Life Men Women Children Aeroplanes- 4 3 38 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 .... 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Collision (1) Apartments. Smokers' carelessness (2)— Dwellings 1 Electrical appliances (2) Fireplace, sparks from (2) 1 Gasoline (6)— 1 Used to kindle fire (3) 2 Inflammable vapours, ignition of (1) Kerosene (2) — 1 2 3 Oil-burner explosion (1) _ Smokers' carelessness (3)— Stoves or stove-pipes (9) — Combustible materials too near (1) 1 18 4 Electrical substations. Gasoline-vapour explosion Smoking while intoxicated 1 Natural-gas explosion Gasoline-vapour explosion (1) Poultry-houses Inflammable vapours, ignition of.. - Smoking in bed Workshops 67 45 38 26 29 24 27 19 28 24 29 12 16 11 13 13 6 12 13 6 5 41 Totals 1956 31 Totals, 1955 28 30 Totals 1953 19 Totals, 1952 17 Totals, 1951 18 Totals, 1950 19 Totals, 1949 15 Totals, 1948 24 Ten-year totals 289 107 242 Printed by Don McDiarmid, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1959 660-1258-6936