ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR 1976 BRITISH COLUMBIA Hon. Garde B. Gardom, Q.C. Attorney-General of British Columbia Henry K. Jenns Fire Marshal of British Columbia MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL To Colonel the Honourable Walter S. Owen, 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 Fifty-fourth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31, 1976. GARDE B. GARDOM, Q.C. A ttorney-General Victoria, B.C. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Fire Losses in Municipalities and Fire Districts 7 Fire Loss Statistics of All Fires 9 Summary of Fire Losses by Property Classifications 14 Fire Losses of $250,000 and Over 15 Major Causes of Fire Resulting in Death 16 Fire Casualties by Month 16 Fire Casualties by Day of Week 16 Fire Casualties by Age 16 Circumstances Contributing to Fire Casualties 17 Fire Crime Statistics 18 Inspections and Orders by Local Assistant Fire Marshals 19 10-year Property Fire Loss Comparison 21 Charts— Number of Fires 22 Fires per Capita 22 Annual Dollar Loss 23 Dollar Loss per Fire 23 Per Capita "Loss 24 Fire Fatalities 24 Fire Losses in Municipalities and Fire Districts, 1976 City Municipalities Incidents Armstrong 6 Burnaby 376 Chilliwack 25 Courtenay 17 Cranbrook 25 Dawson Creek 31 Duncan 21 Enderby 1 Fernie 1 Grand Forks 3 Greenwood 1 Fort St. John 18 Kamloops 88 Kelowna 29 Kimberley 10 Langley 38 Nanaimo 116 Loss Injured Dead $ 907,035 2,902,773 30 5 184,500 1 28,464 415,380 2 1 230,145 1 1 68,826 1 2,055 500 44,360 _ _... 45,000 384,124 1 1,301,378 6 2 560,998 2 7,134 133,327 5 1 1,356,932 12 Incidents Nelson 16 North Vancouver City 124 New Westminster _ 177 Port Alberni 79 Port Coquitlam 29 Penticton 71 Prince George 260 Port Moody 21 Prince Rupert 30 Revelstoke 13 Rossland 7 Trail 44 Vancouver 1,997 Vernon 53 Victoria 273 White Rock 16 Loss Injured Dead $ 643,533 323,955 7 1 700,701 4 4 1,473,159 13 254,460 1 1 160,265 5 828,501 5 1 106,878 2,301,204 3 3 285,479 . 77,691 166,489 8,487,182 125 13 185,122 1 1,250,679 13 2 43,377 District Municipalities Abbotsford-Sumas Campbell River ... Central Saanich ... Chilliwhack Coldstream Coquitlam _ Delta Esquimalt Houston Kent Kitimat Langley Mackenzie Mission Maple Ridge Matsqui North Cowichan . North Saanich .. Incidents Loss Injured Dead $ 34 3,354,175 3 1 46 4,891,900 _.... 4 11 175,903 1 76 452,677 5 2 2 107,677 _.... 123 1,098,286 2 1 141 756,522 26 33 231,622 _.... 7 44,200 5 59,062 4 50 92,111 3 128 1,745,855 17 1 24 52,375 ._._ 24 932,593 2 64 580,121 5 60 685,025 27 274,025 ._... 8 400,150 1 1 Incidents North Vancouver Oak Bay Peachland — 176 23 1 Port Hardy 19 Pitt Meadows 7 Powell River 49 Richmond 203 Saanich 125 Sparwood 13 Summerland 6 Salmon Arm 31 Spallumcheen 3 Squamish 31 Stewart 3 Surrey 316 Terrace _ _ 35 Whistler 6 West Vancouver 132 Loss Injured Dead $ 1,701,957 20 2 191,079 1 400 _.... 251,323 53,932 _.... 290,645 1 1 3,517,472 9 1 431,604 1 2 191,300 ...... 37,500 196,734 1 __. 21,000 2 745,058 1 11,000 2,037,712 13 2 113,578 4 149,103 1 609,245 6 1 Cariboo County Colwood Incidents 289 27 loco Kootenay County . Langford . Nanaimo County — Ocean Falls Prince Rupert County 113 13 136 4 91 Loss $ 7,518,862 144,347 2,031,593 31,186 1,374,083 23,000 1,154,859 Fire Districts Injured Dead 4 Sooke . 11 Incidents Loss Injured Dead University Area Vancouver County _ Victoria County . View Royal Westminster County Yale County 7 17 60 41 5 50 222 48,801 30,150 2,618,358 543,608 43,313 543,410 3,291,498 Incidents Town Municipalities Loss Injured Dead Incidents Loss Injured Dead Castlegar Comox — Creston ... Golden — Hope Kinnaird . 20,708 48,949 42,000 56,718 1,261,243 1,600 Ladysmith Merritt Quesnel Sidney Smithers Williams Lake 14 115,068 10 102,653 19 128,767 5 94,157 9 173,579 34 131,567 E 8 BRITISH COLUMBIA Fire Lc Inc sses in idents 2 5 4 1 3 2 1 4 2 7 3 2 2 1 10 4 2 1 Munic Loss I $ 16,500 55,200 66,145 20,000 ipalities anc Village Mi njured Dead ~3 Z. l Fire Districts, 1976- JNICIPALITIES Incic Masset McBride Midway Nakusp Oliver —Cc ents 2 1 5 2 14 1 1 2 6 3 8 5 2 4 3 3 2 4 6 6 2 mtinued Loss Ii $ 800 2,500 121,100 ljured 1 1 Dead Ashcroft — Burns Lake — 22,616 49,010 500,000 35,000 21,029 313,150 110,250 74,952 15,000 6,200 59,100 132,653 44,238 Chase Clinton Cumberland _ Eikford 19,665 55,000 2,000 85,400 27,814 458,500 Parksville _ Pouce Coupe Port Edward Pemberton - Port McNeill __... Port Alice Princeton Qualicum Beach Salmo Sechelt .__ Fort St. James .. Tahsis Telkwa Tofino Granisle Village Gibsons Landing .... 30,567 8,436 16,173 20,000 164,046 45,783 25,280 8,000 — Hazelton Harrison Hot Springs 100 Mile House — Kaslo Keremeos Taylor 22,000 — Valemount Vanderhoof Warfield Zeballos 35,800 620,550 180 18,156 Lake Cowichan Lillooet 11 1 15 12 80,450 6,000 1,450 196,557 — Lumby — — Provincial Totals Provincial totals Incidents __ 7,433 Loss $ 77,566,724 382 Injured Dead 109 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 Fire Loss Statistics for All Fires,11976 E 9 Incidents Per Cent of Incidents Loss Per Cent of Loss Days of week— Sunday Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday- Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Unknown Totals- General construction— Combustible, fire-resistance rating- Less than % hour % hour or greater- Heavy timber construction Noncombustible, fire-resistance rating- Less than 1 hour. 1 hour or greater. General construction—unclassified- Unknown or not applicable Totals - Building height— 1-storey 2-storey. 3-storey 4 to 6-storey... 7 to 10-storey.. 11 to 20-storey 21 and more storeys Unknown or not applicable... Totals Year of construction- Before 1900 1900 to 1920- 1921 to 1940.. 1941 to 1960- 1961 to 1980. Unknown or not applicable- Totals _ Interior fire protection— Extinguishers, standpipe system, and manual alarm. Extinguishers and standpipe system- Extinguishers and manual alarm system.. Extinguishers.. Standpipe system and manual alarm system.. Standpipe system- Manual fire alarm system Manual fire protection facilities—unclassified- Unknown or not applicable Last inspected— Less than 30 days . 31 to 60 days..... 61 to 90 days . 91 to 180 days .... 6 to 12 months ... 13 to 24 months.. 25 to 36 months . Over 36 months... Not applicable Unknown Totals.. 1,065 940 990 973 943 1,051 1,130 341 7,433 | 194 228 244 439 259 63 14 73 3,546 2,373 7,433 14.3 12.6 13.3 13.0 12.6 14.1 15.2 4.5 11,551,144 6,729,679 9,952,858 10,260,919 10,582,853 15,923,088 10,505,825 2,060,358 7,433 | 100.0 | 77,566,724 100.0 77,566,724 2.6 3.0 3.2 5.9 3.4 .8 .1 .9 47.7 31.9 100.0 6,541,861 8,195,883 3,390,509 6,835,119 4,232,526 1,358,271 141,743 952,837 23,459,031 22,458,944 77,566,724 14.8 8.6 12.8 13.2 13.6 20.5 13.5 2.6 100.0 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 2,223 29.9 25,554,180 32.9 1,123 15.1 17,582,272 22.6 477 6.4 11,819,542 15.2 186 2.5 3,798,257 4.8 89 1.1 4,974,237 6.4 76 1.0 579,619 .7 29 .3 71,915 3,230 43.4 13,186,702 17.0 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 23 .3 373,401 .4 249 3.3 6,415,868 8.2 842 11.3 6,525,758 8.4 989 13.3 22,377,900 28.8 1,744 23.4 22,330,059 28.7 3,586 48.2 19,543,738 25.1 7,433 100.0 | 77,566,724 100.0 293 3.9 1 8,169,934 10.5 32 .4 440,494 .5 271 3.6 8,513,994 10.9 440 5.9 | 16,115,254 20.7 114 1.5 | 1,150,392 1.4 17 .2 1 70,362 205 2.7 1 1,129,346 1.4 317 4.2 1 5,526,078 7.1 5,744 77.2 1 36,450,870 46.9 100.0 8.4 10.5 4.3 8.8 5.4 1.7 .1 1.2 30.2 28.9 100.0 i Similar information is available for groups of specific property classifications as listed on page 14- Summary of Fire Losses by Property Classifications. E 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA Fire Loss Statistics for All Fires,11976—Continued Incidents Per Cent of Incidents Loss Per Cent of Loss Sprinkler protection— Complete— Supervised or standard watchman service 45 12 122 24 64 131 19 1,836 56 5,124 .6 .1 1.6 .3 .8 1.7 .2 24.7 .7 68.9 $ 240,399 72,278 318,272 781,458 1,741,006 1,076,981 572,799 39,625,606 5,904,791 27,233,134 .3 .4 Partial— Supervised or standard watchman service 1.0 2.2 1.3 .7 51.0 7.6 35 1 Totals 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 Automatic fire-detection system— Complete— Heat- Alarm to fire department or central station 31 87 8 14 32 250 54 154 259 6,544 .4 1.1 .1 .1 .4 3.3 .7 2.0 3.4 88.0 5,613,097 1,462,068 78,658 2,607,160 199,532 3,540,796 1,717,315 1,626,642 2,918,445 57,803,011 7.2 1 8 Combustion or smoke— Alarm to fire department or central station .1 3 3 Partial- Heat— Alarm to fire department or central station .2 4 5 Combustion or smoke- Alarm to fire department or central station— 2.2 20 Unclassified 3.7 74 5 Totals 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100 0 Outside fire protection— 4,070 9 342 72 11 32 242 175 2,480 54.7 •1 4.6 •9 A 3.2 2.3 33.3 48,074,748 47,089 6,614,038 1,261,539 346,375 401,548 5,721,119 4,547,442 10,552,826 61.9 8.5 1.6 .4 .5 7 3 5.8 13 6 Totals 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100 0 Water supply flow— 354 95 115 356 483 922 319 1,435 48 3,306 4.7 1.2 1.5 4.7 6.4 12.4 4.2 19.3 .6 44.4 5,807,561 2,163,615 2,155,305 5,662.991 6,266,209 16,345,614 3,227,247 16,289,270 1,287,136 18,361,776 7 4 2 7 200 to 399 gpm 2.7 400 to 599 gpm 600 to 799 gpm. 7.3 80 800 to 1,199 gpm _. 1,200 to 1,599 gpm... 21.0 4.1 21 0 16 23 6 Totals .. .._ 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100 0 i Similar information is available for groups of specific property classifications as listed on page 14— Summary of Fire Losses by Property Classifications. REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 Fire Loss Statistics for All Fires,11976—Continued E ll Incidents Per Cent of Incidents Loss Per Cent of Loss Size of water-main (inches)— 0 4 5 6. 8.. 10- 12- 14 or over Unclassified- Unknown or not applicable- Totals Fire service— Full-time fire department- Volunteer fire department- Combined full-time and volunteer Police acting as full-time fire-fighters... Combined police and fire department. Combined police and volunteer fire-fighters.. Contract to others None Unclassified Unknown or not applicable- Totals Extinguishment— Hand fire extinguisher.. Standpipe and hose system.. Makeshift aids Fire department— Water Other than water- Sprinkler system.. Fixed system, not sprinkler- Burned out Miscellaneous Unknown Totals- Level of origin— Basement, sub-basement- Crawl space, under structure Ground floor, grade level (grade to 9 feet)_ 2nd storey (10-19 feet above grade).. 3rd storey (20-29 feet above grade).. 4th to 12th storey, inclusive (30-119 feet above grade). Over 12 storeys (120 feet and over above grade) Roof level (includes concealed roof space, attic) Unclassified Unknown or not applicable- Totals _ Extent of damage— Confined to— Object of Origin Part of room/area or origin- Room of origin- Floor area of origin- Building of origin Roof Extended beyond building of origin- Unclassified Unknown or not applicable- Totals 282 245 11 2,293 718 163 133 65 46 3,477 2,960 998 1,299 2 37 11 8 270 46 1,802 7,433 995 91 766 3,495 20 31 8 558 1,108 361 514 54 2,664 552 146 85 18 133 152 3,115 7,433 1,131 924 421 356 1,438 51 230 132 2,750 7,433 7,433 | 3.7 3.2 .1 30.8 9.6 2.1 1.7 .8 .6 46.7 5,682,704 3,497,634 32,775 27,174,205 14,796,430 1,223,028 3,521,144 965,783 1,932,138 18,740,883 100.0 | 77,566,724 39.8 13.4 17.4 .4 .1 .1 3.6 .6 24.2 19,943,867 20,116,891 20,016,862 6,150 293,479 93,250 59,700 9,287,367 1,724,145 6,025,013 100.0 77,566,724 | 13.3 1.2 10.3 47.0 .2 .4 .1 7.5 14.9 4.8 I 4,680,444 684,386 961,922 | 55,030,921 | 83,767 159,020 58,470 7,919,054 5,814,903 2,173,837 7,433 ; 100.0 | 77,566,724 6.9 .7 35.8 7.4 1.9 1.1 .2 1.7 2.0 41.9 6,747,465 459,048 46,915,153 6,126,507 1,122,208 909,832 26,540 2,026,095 1,851,355 11,382,521 100.0 77,566,724 15.2 12.4 5.6 4.7 19.3 .6 3.0 1.7 36.9 1,974,958 1,496,141 973,325 2,357,229 45,053,135 382,863 8,979,148 7,326,715 9,023,210 100.0 7.3 4.5 35.0 19.0 1.5 4.5 1.2 2.4 24.1 100.0 25.7 25.9 25.8 .3 .1 11.9 2.2 7.7 100.0 6.0 .8 1.2 70.9 .1 .2 10.2 7.4 2.8 100.0 8.6 .5 60.4 7.8 1.4 1.1 2.6 2.3 14.6 100.0 2.5 1.9 1.2 3.0 58.0 .4 11.5 9.4 11.6 77,566,724 | 100.0 I i Similar information is available for groups of specific property classifications as listed on page 14— Summary of Fire Losses by Property Classifications. E 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA Fire Loss Statistics for All Fires,11976—Continued Incidents Per Cent of Incidents Loss Per Cent of Loss Area of origin—■ 181 527 82 688 609 95 502 769 61 95 328 456 922 209 402 471 602 434 2.4 7.0 1.1 9.2 8.1 1.2 6.7 10.3 .8 1.2 4.4 6.1 12.4 2.8 5.4 6.3 8.0 5.8 $ 1,935,306 6,122,543 5,261,883 3,445,228 4,206,730 762,674 12,881,785 15,037,513 211,357 1,790,676 9,851,870 5,759,643 1,013,809 198,434 437,703 2,769,982 3,338,291 2,541,297 2.4 7.8 6.7 4.4 5.4 .9 16.6 19.3 .2 2.3 12.7 7.4 1.3 .2 .5 3.5 4.3 3.2 Assembly area— Others _ Function area— Others Service facilities— Chimney, flue Others Vehicle— Engine area _ Fuel area _ Others Totals 7,433 | 100.0. 77,566,724 100.0 Source of ignition—■ 499 496 911 754 295 718 1,147 230 2,025 358 6.7 6.6 12.2 10.1 3.9 9.6 15.4 3.0 27.2 4.8 5,255,040 2,091,793 6,685,061 4,271,533 2,855,791 1,528.668 12,379,200 967,094 39,506,227 2,056,317 6.7 2.6 8.6 5.5 3.6 1.9 15.9 1.2 50.9 2.6 Total"! 7,433 | 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 Fuel or energy— 1,413 183 1,079 101 180 872 1,304 4 552 1,745 19.0 2.4 14.5 1.3 2.4 11.7 17.5 7.4 23.4 14,182,666 2,591,409 3,972,861 1,133,165 1,245,446 7,105,743 7,309,255 630,000 6,439,328 32,956,851 18.2 3.3 5.1 1.4 1.6 9.1 9.4 .8 8.3 42.4 Natural gas Lightning.. . _ Totals 7,433 | 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 Form of heat— Spark— 220 1,139 37 1,658 52 1,094 88 788 227 2,130 2.9 15.3 .4 22.3 .6 14.7 1.1 10.6 3.0 28.6 1,632,154 5,999,952 128,545 13,492,403 136,349 6,030,389 537,881 6,383,324 2,964,822 40,260,905 2.1 7.7 .1 17.3 .1 7.7 .6 8.2 3.8 51.9 Spontaneous ignition (not incompatible chemicals) Heat from smokers' material Unclassified - _ Totals _ 7,433 100.0 1 77,566,724 100.0 i Similar information is available for groups of specific property classification Summary of Fire Losses by Property Classifications. s as listed m page 14— REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 Fire Loss Statistics for All Fires,11976—Continued E 13 Incidents Per Cent of Incidents Loss Per Cent of Loss Material first ignited—• Structural components 1,131 1,056 318 1,024 1,466 181 102 127 2,028 15.2 14.2 4.2 13.7 19.7 2.4 1.3 1.7 27.2 $ 12,716,108 9,286,812 1,552,469 7,966,969 8,067,774 1,509,246 247,195 828,642 35,391,509 16.3 11.9 2.0 10.2 10.4 1.9 .3 1.0 45.6 Totals 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 Act or omission— 1,735 1,027 414 1,828 174 85 699 103 1,029 339 23.3 13.8 5.5 24.5 2.3 1.1 9.4 1.3 13.8 4.5 21,752,452 8,830,484 2,075,086 8,355,157 1,576,949 435,559 3,852,382 1,179,362 27,491,481 2,017,812 28.0 Misuse of source of ignition _ 11.3 2.6 10.7 2.0 .5 4.9 1.5 35.4 2.6 Totals _ 7,433 100.0 77,566,724 100.0 i Similar information is available for groups of specific property classifications as listed on page 14- Summary of Fire Losses by Property Classifications. E 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA sei | VO CH OO j CO VO j j 00 rH ON I Tf JTj-VO jrH rH ivdrHfS i rH rH jr^CSCO I CS ICOr. CN i IIICOrHfS! i! li | +J_j Vi tu *- J3 •--8' :—i(Srlcn ioohh^ os .o | _S p o >0 a S3» CO O t> rH rH CO ON C^- Tt j in t^ CO O H : ri ci h od rs o r- o oo r» 3 w rH ON rn co r- vo Tt_puo vo Tt t£ Tt rH \6 cS cn Tt oo^^^.vD^H^inn o'oo'o inTtinrfdinrfrH'^-Tind'oN Tt—rn\ot-rHv-iininiftr).rHTtONt © m CN t-h CS CS t> CS h m oo oo Tt h cs n co in in *n S » .2? S3 rC 3 51 So. vi , TJ OJ S 213 .S P r~r-ONONONONCSTt>ft vo 'rH^HrH CSCSCSCOcOCOCOCOcOCOTtinNOr-OOOOCO 00 -II I I I I I I I - I, • J I I I I T I L "-HH r- ^H rH rn ,- ,-< rH rH CS NO O O O O rH rH ,_< ,-H CS •rHTtCO MM-HtSfiNOhM^OOOOH^lrivDC H ,-.,_! ,_, CSCSCScOCOCOCOCOrOCOTtlnNOr-OOOOOOOOCO REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 Fire Losses of $250,000 and Over, 1976 E 15 Municipality Occupancy Cause Loss 01-08. 01-23 . 01-07- 01-15. 01-18. 02-24.. 02-01. 02-26.. 02-16.. 02-05. 02-27- 02-20- 03-23-. 03-03. 03-04-. 03-05- 04-09- 04-10. 05-31.. 05-21.. 05-28 05-19.. 06-24- 06-30- 06-18-. 06-30 - 06-16- 07-28- 07-23- 07-04.. 08-11... 08-20. 08-17 . 08-10. 08-12 - 09-01 09-16 09-10. 09-03 . 10-25 - 11-23. 12-01- 12-25. 12-19- Langley- Surrey. Cariboo County- Vancouver Hope- Prince Rupert- Abbotsford-Sumas- Langley_ Vancouver County- Hope Richmond Burnaby- Vancouver.— _.. Prince Rupert _.. Cariboo County. Vancouver. Burnaby— Richmond Kamloops Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver County- Armstrong Mission Surrey- Yale County.. Vanderhoof- Mission Kootenay County.. Cranbrook- Nanaimo Campbell River Cariboo County Squamish Pouce Coupe City of Fort St. John North Vancouver Vancouver County— Yale County. Burnaby _ Cariboo County. Nelson Port Alberni—- Cariboo County Canned, bottled food or soft drinks Food processingi Gas-distribution system, pipeline- Laundry and dry-cleaning Ice rink Hotel, year-round use. Department store Elementary school Hotel, seasonal use (off season)— Machinery Airport passenger terminal _. Amusement centre Canning, preserving of fish, sea foods Hotel, year-round use Property unknown - General warehouse __ - Apartment, three to 20 units with business - Junior high, intermediate school- Restaurant Upholstered furniture, bedding Church, chapel — Commercial fishing-vessel Elementary school - Sawmill, planing-mill Elementary school _ Sawmill, planing-mill _. Icerink Boxed, crated, or packaged agricultural products storage — Boxed, crated, or packaged agricultural products storage— Department store - Apartment, over 20 units with or without business Junior high, intermediate school _ Helicopter and vertical take-off aircraft, non-military Civic, Federal, or Provincial Government Office Seeds, beans, nuts, grain storage in bulk Seeds, beans, nuts, grain storage in bulk Helicopter and vertical take-off aircraft, non-military. Senior high school Sawmill, planing-mill Sawmill, planing-mill Apartment, three to 20 units Building under major renovation Hotel, year-round use Variety store (large) Miscellaneous act or omissioni.. IncendiarismS. Miscellaneous act or omissioni- IncendiarismS Part failure, leak, break- Miscellaneous act or omissioni.. Disposal of smokers' materiaL. Miscellaneous act or omissioni— Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni Arson or other fires1 Criminal offence Miscellaneous act or omissioni. Miscellaneous act or omissioni. Act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni. Temporary loss of judgemnt— Criminal offence Arson or other fires i Incendiarisms Incendiarisms, Miscellaneous act or omissioni. Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni. Incendiarisms Miscellaneous act or omission- Criminal offence Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni. Incendiarism^ Human failingi- IncendiarismS Miscellaneous act or omissioni- IncendiarismS- Miscellaneous act or omissioni Welding or cutting too close. Aircraft Incendiarisms Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni Miscellaneous act or omissioni— Mechanical and electrical failurei $ 500,000 296,000 2,500,000 679,863 250,000 311,432 3,194,100 380,000 650,038 1,000,000 839,300 517,000 839,936 1,750,000 250,000 350,000 410,000 1,700,000 310,000 330,000 250,000 300,000 750,000 250,000 270,000 266,577 488,000 325,000 400,000 311,500 299,150 4,500,000 270,000 600,000 500,000 250,000 600,000 1,000,000 900,000 406,000 480,000 404,103 1,200,000 345,000 iUnclassified or unknown. s Or suspected incendiarism (no charges laid). E 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA Major Causes of Fires Resulting in Deaths, 1976 Cause Men Women Children Total 30 3 5 2 2 2 21 11 3 4 1 11 4 2 2 7 45 6 9 Wood-fired stove and space heaters 4 4 3 Other 39 Totals .. 65 30 15 110 Fire Casualties by Month, 1976 Month Injuries Male Female Total Male Deaths Female Total January. February- March- April May. June July. August- September. October November.. December- Totals- 21 22 16 32 26 25 44 9 15 19 18 37 5 26 7 29 4 20 6 38 1 27 6 31 12 86 4 13 1 16 8 27 7 25 7 44 284 98 382 4 4 11 6 8 2 11 78 32 6 6 12 9 10 3 20 10 12 3 6 13 110 Day Sunday Monday . Tuesday Wednesday Thursday __ Friday Saturday Fire Casualties by Day of Week, 1976 Dead 22 16 13 8 20 9 22 Injured 50 71 27 47 44 76 67 Totals 110 382 Age Unknown Under 2 years 2-10 years 11-18 years _ 19-70 years _. Over 70 years — Totals Fire Casualties by Age, 1976 Deaths 1 1 9 8 78 13 110 Injuries 12 9 29 323 9 382 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 E 17 Circumstances Contributing to Fire Casualties, 1976 Condition of casualty— Asleep at time of fire Deaths Injuries Bedridden or other handicap Impairment by alcohol Impairment by drugs . Under restraint or detention Too young to act Senile Left unattended (children) Unclassified Unknown or not applicable 40 3 19 1 4 1 1 17 24 Totals Action of casualty— Injured while attempting to escape .. 10 Overexertion or heart attack 1 Volunteer entered— Remained for rescue purposes Remained for fire-fighting 2 Remained to save property Loss of judgment or panic 8 Received delayed warning _ 6 Unclassified - __ 29 Unknown or not applicable Totals _ 55 4 9 6 ~2 1 2 79 224 110 382 37 1 16 106 11 14 16 59 122 Type of fabric or material ignited- Cotton Wool Deaths Injuries Other natural fibre Rayon (viscose) Other synthetic fibre — Mixed fibres Rubber Unclassified Unknown or not applicable Totals 11 1 7 3 4 1 10 73 110 Cause of failure to escape— Trapped— Vertical spread of fire/smoke 7 Horizontal spread of fire/smoke 23 High flame spread—combustible interior finish 11 Falling debris _.„ Explosion _ 4 Exit blocked or obstructed by fire 2 110 382 Outdoor fire Unclassified Unknown or not applicable Totals 21 42 27 4 " 2 16 12 313 382 6 13 2 2 23 2 3 45 286 110 382 Ignition of clothing or other fabrics— Outer clothing 17 51 Sleepwear 11 3 Underclothing 1 1 Bedding or bed linen 6 10 Mattress or pillow _ 2 9 Upholstered furniture _ _ 11 6 Unclassified _ 10 4 Unknown or not applicable _ 52 298 Totals 110 382 E 18 BRITISH COLUMBIA Fire Crime Statistics, 1976 Motive Unknown Insurance Fraud Revenge Cover Crime Mischief Mental Total Incendiary, suspected or known Provincial totals Time— 0001-0800 0801-1600 1601-0000. Property— Assembly. Institutional Residential Office Mercantile Manufacturing Storage Vehicles, outside areas Miscellaneous Incendiary method— Unknown Flammable liquids Incendiary devices Matches and combustibles Other. Not applicable Persons involved- Unknown Adult male. Adult female Juvenile male Juvenile female Persons charged— Adult male. Adult female Juvenile male Total persons charged- Offences cleared— By charge _ Other. Not cleared.. Disposition of charge- Convictions Dismissals Pending- With drawn- Stay of proceedings- Committed Authority for charge— Criminal Code— Sec. 387 Sec. 389 (1) Sec. 389 (2) Sec. 390 Sec. 392(1).. Fire Marshal Act... Other 1,166 549 163 454 77 11 348 21 64 23 147 445 29 542 177 431 14 2 1,067 42 14 41 2 35 10 21 66 66 7 1,092 1 66 3 1 9 38 12 2 1 17 13 6 2 5 1 4 5 551 118 139 294 62 4 135 3 32 5 67 209 32 205 61 2 265 18 443 13 2 87 6 11 2 10 I 23 23 55 473 29 2 10 8 2 11 40 25 7 8 1 2 24 1 9 1 7 8 25 13 20 7 2 12 1 15 17 14 9 15 1,774 701 312 761 142 21 514 24 99 28 215 665 63 757 250 2 730 33 2 1,512 76 42 136 8 54 27 32 113 115 81 1,577 1 118 5 2 1 24 57 2 20 2 1 29 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 E 19 Inspections and Orders by Local Assistant Fire Marshals, 1976 CITY MUNICIPALITIES (32) Inspections Orders Inspections Orders 1,176 317 2,115 368 104 _.- " 6 4 ~6 1 134 5,812 2,948 1,975 785 6 3 15 405 160 231 256 224 31,824 1,999 8,912 546 Fernie 215 Prince Rupert Rossland ... Trail 158 2,548 663 611 1,293 460 213 426 4 Langley. Victoria White Rock.. ... . ... 8 Totals Fort St. John... 66,318 614 DISTRICT MUNICIPALITIES (38) 338 _.- 794 2 2,617 1,247 Oak Bay. 23 90 598 26 1,400 1,052 176 2,520 3,981 253 31 44 344 4,643 685 695 Delta 141 Saanich 22 3 1 Kent 194 210 167 428 313 Surrey .... Terrace North Cowichan _ 21,716 1,325 E 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA Inspections and Orders by Local Assistant Fire Marshals, 1976—Continued VILLAGE MUNICIPALITIES (59) Inspections Orders Inspections Orders 1 5 3 2 Montrose s 22 141 11 1 1 Oliver 100 Mile House . Osoyoos Eikford Port Edward Port McNeill - Qualicum Beach- Salmo Sayward Sechelt _ _. Gold River. Slocan _ _ Tahsis.. 15 92 Taylor 9 Telkwa. Tofino- Valemount Vanderhoof Warfield 10 Lytton Zeballos Midway 306 8 TOWN MUNICIPALITIES (10) Comox 135 3 1 160 — Creston Sidney Smithers Totals 298 1 FIRE DISTRICTS (15) 24 9 282 ~ 2 ~~1 Sooke 1,078 1 11 279 loco Vancouver, County of- Yale, County of Totals— Prince Rupert, County of 1,684 3 Grand to Grand to Grand to Grand to Grand tot Grand tol Grand tol Grand tot Grand tot Grand tot Inspections Ord als, 1976 90,322 1,9 als, 1975 81,027 1,9 ers 51 20 44 86 38 88 J2 97 72 29 als, 1974 _ 91,418 1,5 als, 1973 _ 87,266 1,6 als, 1972 63,940 8 als, 1971 84,104 5 als, 1970 81,056 als, 1969 _ 77,927 1 als, 1968 _. 92,074 1 als, 1967 -- 85,969 5 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 10-Year Property Fire Loss Comparison, 1967-76 E 21 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 (1) Number of fires _ (2) Loss (3) Loss per fire (2) -=- (1) (4) Population (thousands)i (5) Per capita fires [(1) -=- (4)] X 1,000— (6) Per capita loss (2) -f- (4) (7) Adjustment Factor (A)s _._ (8) Adjusted per capita loss (A) (6) H- (7) (9) CPI Adjustment Factor (b)S (10) Adjusted per capita loss (b) (6) -j- (9) (11) Fire fatalities 6,934 $21,490,053 $3,099 1,945.0 3,57 $11.05 .746 $14.81 .874 $12.64 106 $21 7,010 116,871 $3,012 2,003.0 3.50 $10.54 .799 $13.19 .906 $11.63 100 7,602 $27,514,446 $3,619 2,060.0 3.69 $13.36 .851 $15.70 .937 $14.26 87 7,546 $34,561,074 $4,580 2,128.0 3.55 $16.24 .912 $17.81 .969 $16.76 104 7,454 $34,716,758 $4,657 2,184.6 3.41 $15.89 1.000 $15.89 1.000 $15.89 153 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 (1) Number of fires (2) Loss (3) Loss per fire (2) -r (1) _ (4) Population (thousands)i (5) Per capita fires [(1) -=- (4)] X 1,000 (6) Per capita loss (2) -f- (4) (7) Adjustment Factor (a) 2. (8) Adjusted per capita loss (A) (6) -j- (7) (9) CPI Adjustment Factor (b) s. (10) Adjusted per capita loss (b) (6) •— (9) (11) Fire fatalities 8,120 $37,389,116 $4,605 2,241.4 3.62 $16.68 1.101 $15.15 1.040 $16.04 100 7,613 $45,693,116 $6,002 2,302.4 3.31 $19.85 1.232 $16.11 1.110 $17.88 116 7,526 $62,842,182 $8,350 2,375.7 3.17 $26.45 1.347 $19.64 1.239 $21.35 129 7,782 $66,461,246 $8,540 2,433.2 3.20 $27.31 1.440 $18.97 1.377 $19.84 129 7,433 $77,566,724 $10,432 2,466.6 3.01 $31.45 1.605 $19.31 1.510 $20.83 110 1 Population statistics were provided by Statistics Canada. The figures for 1966 and 1971 were actual census figures. The others are estimates by Statistics Canada. s Adjustment Factor: In an effort to get a more realistic picture of losses over the years, some form of adjustment factors were necessary to take inflation into consideration. We chose (A) the B.C. Residential Building Construction Input Price Index, as provided by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corp., using 1971 as a base of 1.000; and (b) Consumer Price Index for Vancouver with 1971 = 1.000. E 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA NUMBER OF FIRES. 1967-76 B 8,000 2 Z 7,000 6,000 71 72 Chart 1 FIRES PER CAPITA. 1967-76 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 E 23 ANNUAL FIRE DOLLAR LOSS. 1967-76 o p E 24 BRITISH COLUMBIA AVERAGE DOLLAR LOSS PER FIRE, 1967-76 Q < a o X H HI g E o Q Oi 0 < a > < 67 69 70 71 72 Chart 4 73 REPORT OF THE FIRE MARSHAL, 1976 E 25 ACTUAL AND ADJUSTED PER CAPITA FIRE LOSS (DOLLARS), 1967-76 a. < O 7] 72 Chart 5 E 26 BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRE FATALITIES. 1967-76 160 60 67 69 70 71 72 Chart 6 73 75 Printed by K. M. MacDonald, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1978 1,530-178-6819