Fire deaths in the province of Ontario 1958 and 1959

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Fire deaths in the province of Ontario 1958 and 1959 Williams-Leir, G.

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NATIONAL RESURCH COUNCIL CANADA

DIVISION OF BUILDING RESEARCH

PIRE DEATHS I N THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO 1958 AND 1959

by G. Williams-Leir I n t e r n a l R e p o r t No. 211 o f t h e D i v i s i o n o f B u i l d i n g Research OTTAWA December 1960

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PREFACE

The Fire Section of the Division of Building

Research, National Research Council of Canada, on 1 January 1954, began a study of deaths caused by fire in the Province of Ontario. DBR Reports Nos.

72,

86

and 124 have already been issued on this study. The purpose of the present report is to present in statistical form the information obtained in the fifth and sixth years of the study. Over

1000 cases have now been investigated.

'Phis investigation was undertaken with the

encou&gement and co-operation of the late Mr. W. J. Scott,

O.B.E.,

Q.C.,

Fire Marshal of the Proyince of Ontario. Mr. R. B. Wallace, Deputy Registrar-General of Ontario,

kindly provided the assistance of his Office's Vital Statistics Section.

Mr.

C. R. Magone, Q.C., Deputy

Attorney General of Ontario, secured the co-operation of local coroners and Crown attorneys and many municipal fire officials also supplied useful information. The Division is grateful for all the assistance it has received.

Por the initial, or pilot stage of this study, one province has been selected as a sample of the Dominion. It is hoped that in a few years the techniques used in

conducting the study will be so developed that they can be offered for wider use.

Comments on, or criticisms of, this report will be welcomed.

Ottawa

December

1960

R.

I?.

Legget Director

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FIRE DEATHS I N THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO 1958 AND 1959

G. Williams-Leir

This i s t h e f o u r t h of a s e r i e s of r e p o r t s (1, 2 , 3 )

on d e a t h s due t o f i r e i n Ontario. I t a n a l y s e s t h e circumstances surrounding such d e a t h s f o r t h e y e a r s 1958 and 1959. Since

it i s proposed t o t e r m i n a t e t h i s survey a t t h e end of 1960 t h i s r e p o r t i s l e s s d e t a i l e d t h a n i t s p r e d e c e s s o r s . The

f i n a l r e p o r t w i l l c o n t a i n comparisons between t h e seven y e a r s of t h e s t u d y s i m i l a r t o t h o s e i n t h e l a s t r e p o r t ( 3 ) . Those wishing t o csmparc t h e f i n d i n g s f o r 1958 and 1959 w i t h e a r l i e r y e a r s should r e f e r t o t h i s l a s t r e p o r t .

The i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h e s u r v e y was g a t h e r e d b o t h by correspondence and from s t a f f i n v e s t i g a t i o n s .

FIRE

DEATHS I N ONTARIO

The c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s used and t h e t e c h n i q u e s by which t h e i n f o r n a t i o n was manipulated have been d e s c r i b e d i n d e t a i l i n t h e "Coding Manual f o r A n a l y s i s of O n t a r i o F i r e Deaths 1956" ( 4 ) .

For t h e purpose of t h i s i n q u i r y a f i r e d e a t h means a d e a t h c l a s s i f i e d under heading E916 of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S t a t i s t i c a l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n ( 5 ) , namely, "Accident caused by f i r e and e x p l o s i o n of combustible m a t e r i a l " . The V i t a l

S t a t i s t i c s S e c t i o n of t h e Orrtario Registrar-General1 s Off i c e informs t h e F i r e S e c t i o n of each c a s e it i s c l a s s i f y i n g under t h i s head, and normally t h e s e a r e t h e c a s e s s t u d i e d i n t h i s

survey. O c c a s i o n a l l y , c a s e s a r e r e j e c t e d o r added a f t e r

f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n h a s been obtained a s a r e s u l t of t h e F i r e S e c t i o n f s i n q u i r i e s .

Sources of I n f o r m a t i o n

Some f a t a l f i r e s a r e v i s i t e d a s soon a s p o s s i b l e a f t e r t h e event by a member of t h e F i r e S e c t i o n who t h e n p r e p a r e s a r e p o r t . I n o t h e r c a s e s f i r e s a r e v i s i t e d by a member of t h e Ontario F i r e M a r s h a l l s s t a f f and. h i s r e p o r t i s made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e D i v i s i o n .

The F i r e S e c t i o n i s informed about o t h e r c a s e s through a newsclipping s e r v i c e and by t h e V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s S e c t i o n . Forms a r e t h e n s e n t t o t h e f i r e c h i e f of t h e

m u n i c i p a l i t y concerned, o r , i f t h e r e i s no f i r e department, t o t h e l o c a l p o l i c e o f f i c e r who i s r e q u e s t e d t o supply

p a r t i c u l a r s of t h e f i r e .

Specimens of t h e forms used s i n c e March 1956 a r e i n c l u d e d a s Appendix I t o t h i s r e p o r t .

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The V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Section r e p o r t s on every case; a death i s not t r e a t e d a s a f i r e death

u n t i l

e i t h e r a r e p o r t i s received from t h i s Section o r a r e p o r t from another source has been discussed with t h e V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Section.

PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE DEATHS

The appropriate questions t o a s k when a s c e r t a i n i n g t h e reasons f o r a f i r e death vary according t o t h e circumstances. Thus, questions about b u i l d i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n a r e i r r e l e v a n t when t h e death i s due t o a c l o t h i n g f i r e ; and when t h e victim i s a small c h i l d , t h e r e a r e questions regarding t h e care taken of t h e c h i l d t h a t do n o t a r i s e f o r a a u l t s .

I n t h i s r e p o r t , t h e r e f o r e , every f i r e death has been c l a s s i f i e d a s e i t h e r a B death o r a C death, where B means !'building f i r e 1 ' and C "clothing f i r e 1 ' ( p r e c i s e defini- t i o n s of t h e s e terms a r e given i n t h e Coding Manual ( 4 ) ) . Every f i r e death i s a l s o e i t h e r an I death o r a n A d e a t h , where I means " i n f a n t o r c h i l d under seven" and A means "aged

seven o r over".

One i n d i c a t i o n which supports t h e view t h a t infant

f i r e deaths form a group f o r which s e p a r a t e treatment is appropriate i s t h e sudden drop

i n

f i r e deaths a t about age

5

(Fig.

4 ) .

The f o u r abbreviations, B , C , I and A w i l l be used s i n g l y o r t o g e t h e r i n t h i s r e p o r t without f u r t h e r explanation. It should be noted t h a t the1.e a r e f o u r possible combinations

-

IB,

I C , AB, AC

-

so t h a t an I B death means t h e death of a c h i l d under seven i n a b u i l d i n g f i r e , and so on.

Table I shows how male and female victims were d i s t r i b u t e d among these primary c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s ,

F a t a l F i r e s

The 348 f i r e deaths reported on r e s u l t e d from 274

f a t a l f i r e s . The d i s t r i b u t i o n of deaths p e r f i r e i s given

i n

Table 11, Throughout t h e r e p o r t t h e u n i t of comparison used i s t h e f i r e death r a t h e r than t h e f a t a l f i r e ,

F i r e Death Rate

!Phis .term i s defined f o r t h e parpose of t h i s r e p o r t a s t h e number of f i r e deaths i n any group p e r 100,000 people

a t r i s k i n t h a t group p e r 1 2 months, The abbreviation "FOR" w i l l be used i n t h e remainder of t h i s r e p o r t .

Geographical Distmibution of F i r e Deaths

The Frontispiece t o t h i s r e p o r t i s a map t h a t shows how t h e f i r e death r a t e v a r i e s a c r o s s Ontario.

FDR

has been

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computed by c o u n t i e s and d i s t r i c t s f o r t h e s i x y e a r period 1954-59, b u t i n s e v e r a l c a s e s a d j a c e n t c o u n t i e s o r d i s t r i c t s have been grouped s o t h a t no group has a population of l e s s t h a n 50,000 ( s i n c e i n groups s m a l l e r t h a n t h i s t h e FDR would be unduly i n f l u e n c e d by a s i n g l e f a t a l i t y ) .

I t would be unwise t o draw c o n c l u s i o n s about any s i n g l e group from j u s t s i x y e a r s of i n v e s t i g a t i o n , however, s i n c e a s i n g l e f i r e i n which s e v e r a l l i v e s a r e l o s t could d r a s t i c a l l y a l t e r t h e FDR f o r a l e s s populous county o r group. I n s p i t e o f t h i s t h e r e i s a c l e a r conclusion t o be drawn f r o m t h e F r o n t i s p i e c e map a s a whole. A l l t h e d i s t r i c t s ( i . e . from Muskoka and N i p i s s i n g northwards) have I?DBl s exceeding 4 and m o s t exceed 6. I n c o n t r a s t , most of t h e c o u n t i e s o f s o u t h e r n Ontario have l ? D R t s l e s s t h a n 4. M o s t c i t l e s w i t h p o p u l a t i o n s over 100,000 have F D R l s l e s s t h a n 2 , a n d s governs t h e r a t e f o r t h e c o u n t i e s i n which t h e y l i e .

Over-all r a t e s f o r t h e s e a r e a s when grouped may be computed. A s shown i n Table 111, t h e f i v e c i t i e s t o g e t h e r have a n FDR of about 2. Ekcluding t h e s e c i t i e s t h e r a t e f o r t h e remainder of t h e c o u n t i e s ( i . e . s o u t h e r n O n t a r i o ) i s about 3, while f o r t h e d i s t r i c t s ( i . e . n o r t h e r n O n t a r i o ) it

i s about 6 .

These t h r e e groupings have v e r y d i f f e r e n t population d e n s i t i e s and a n e g a t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n between population

d e n s i t y and f i r e d e a t h r a t e seems e v i d e n t . Chronological D i s t r i b u t i o n of F i r e Deaths

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show t h e dependence of

FDH

_upon

time o f y e a r , day of week, and time of day.

The worst season f o r f i r e d e a t h s i s from October t o

May, and Saturday i s t h e worst day of t h e week. More f a t a l

f i r e s occur a t n i g h t t h a n d u r i n g t h e day, and t h e r e i s a l s o a heavy incidence o f f a t a l f i r e s around b r e a H a s t time,

The time of t h e f i r e i s t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e graphs, n o t t h e time o f d e a t h .

F i r e Deaths by Age o f Victim

F i r e d e a t h s , n o t FOR, a r e p l o t t e d a g a i n s t age i n Pig. 4. A s explained i n t h e previous r e p o r t , PDR i s h i g h e s t f o r t h e o v e r - 8 0 t s , whereas t h e p r o p o r t i o n of f i r e d e a t h s t o d e a t h s from o t h e r causes is h i g h e s t a t age 4.

Occupancy

The oaou n c i e s i n which t h e fats:. f i r e s t o o k place

S"

a r e set out i n Tab e I V . Compared w i t h 1954-57 t h e r e were more f i r e d e a t h s in i n s t i t u t i o n s and i n t r a i l e r s and f s w e r

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outdoors; more i n unshared houses and apartments and fewer i n o t h e r dwelling c a t e g o r i e s .

Nature of F a t a l I n j u r y

Table V shoas t h e n a t u r e of t h e f a t a l i n jury t h a t was recorded a s t h e cause of death. When a body i s badly

burned i n a b u i l d i n g f i r e it i s d i f f i c u l t t o say whether-

death was due' t o burns, asphyxia o r carbon monoxide poisoning, and, t h e r e f o r e , t h e f i g u r e f o r burns may be high.

B U I L D I N G FIRE DEATHS

The next t h r e e s e c t i o n s d e a l with b u i l d i n g f i r e deaths only. Deaths due t o i g n i t i o n of c l o t h i n g without any b u i l d i n g f i r e a r e excluded.

( A ) Overcrowding

I n order t o t e s t t h e hypothesis t h a t f i r e deaths a r e f r e q u e n t l y a s s o c i a t e d with overcrowded l i v i n g , t h e gross f l o o r a r e a p e r r e s i d e n t f o r each dwelling where a f a t a l f i r e occurred was t a b u l a t e d whenever t h e data were a v a i l a b l e .

The r e s u l t s a r e given i n Table V I , f r o m which it

w i l l be seen t h a t 37 p e r c e n t of t h e f a t a l i t i e s had been l i v i n g a t a d e n s i t y of 150 square f e e t per person, o r a t a higher d e n s i t y .

( b ) Source of i g n i t i o n and reason f o r f a t a l i n j u r y These a r e t a b u l a t e d t o g e t h e r i n Table VII. Among t h e known sources of i g n i t i o n , t h e most prominent a r e 'smoking' ( c a t e g o r i e s 3 and 4 ) and ' f u e l cookers and s t o v e s ' ( c a t e g o r i e s 1 4 and 1 5 ) . Among t h e known reasons f o r f a t a l i n j u r y , t h e most f r e q u e n t i s

' a s l e e p i n burning b u i l d i n g ' . Nine deaths a r e a t t r i b u t e d t o incendiarism.

( c ) Surface m a t e r i a l s

It i s o f obvious importance t o know whether t h e

choice of b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s i n f l u e n c e s t h e p r o b a b i l i t y of t h e death of t h e occupants by f i r e . I n Table VIII t h e wall f i n i s h e s i n t h e room where each f a t a l f i r e

s t a r t e d a r e given. This may n o t be t h e room where t h e v i c t i m s u f f e r e d h i s f a t a l i n j u q .

Prom t h e Table it appears t h a t i n 34 p e r c e n t of t h e c a s e s whqre t h e nature of t h e w a l l m a t e r i a l was known

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c a s e s where t h e c e i l i n g m a t e r i a l was known. These proportions a r e a p p r e c i a b l y s m a l l e r t h a n those given f o r 1956-57 i n t h e previous r e p o r t . There i s s t i l l no information a v a i l a b l e on t h e numbers of b u i l d i n g s a t r i s k l i n e d w i t h each c l a s s of m a t e r i a l , but t h e proportions a r e s t i l l h i g h enough t o make it p l a u s i b l e t h a t t h e r i s k i s g r e a t e r i n a combustibly-lined house. F i r e Department Attendance

Table I X summarizes t h e a v a i l a b l e information on attendance of f i r e departments a t f a t a l b u i l d i n g f i r e s . I n 72 p e r c e n t of t h e c a s e s t h e d e a t h occurred i n a m u n i c i p a l i t y having a f i r e department and t h i s department did a t t e n d t h e f i r e , some-times a s s i s t e d by o t h e r s . I n 10 p e r c e n t of c a s e s t h e f i r e was attended e i t h e r by a f i r e department from o u t s i d e t h e m u h i c i p a l i t y o r by a non-municipal firefi;;i?ting body such a s a works f i r e brigade. I n t h e remaining 18 p e r c e n t no organized f i r e f i g h t i n g body was i n attendance.

This information h a s been t a b u l a t e d f o r b u i l d i n g f i r e s with c l o t h i n g f i r e s excluded. I n most c l o t h i n g f i r e s t h e r e i s no need f o r t h e attendance of a f i r e department. Extent of F a t a l Building F i r e s

Table X l i s t s t h e e x t e n t of t h e b u i l d i n g f i r e s . I n more t h a n h a l f t h e c a s e s t h e b u i l d i n g was destroyed b u t t h e f i r e r a r e l y spread t o o t h e r b u i l d i n g s .

CLO'PHING FIRE DEATHS

The sources of i g n i t i o n i n f a t a l c l o t h i n g f i r e s a r e given i n t h e right-hand column o f Table V I I . The m o s t

prominent sources a r e smoking m a t e r i a l s and cooking a p p l i a n c e s , both e l e c t r i c a l and of o t h e r .tspes.. I n 1958-59, 42 p e r c e n t

of t h e C deaths were of v i c t i m s aged 65 o r over; t h e c o r r e s - ponding f i g u r e f o r B deaths i s 22 p e r c e n t , s o it appears t h a t old people a r e e s p e c i a l l y prone t o f a t a l c l o t h i n g f i r e s .

The type of garmen.t and t h e m a t e r i a l of which i$

w a s made a r e t a b u l a t e d t o g e t h e r i n Table X I . Cotton s h i r t s and d r e s s e s a r e t h e most f r e q u e n t offenders; t h e y a r e a l s o probably t h e garments most o f t e n worn and exposed t o r i s k .

Table X I 1 i n d i c a t e s t h e a c t i o n t a k e n by t h e victim

when h i s c l o t h e s i g n i t e d . T h i s information would be more valuable if we a l s o knew t h e a c t i o n taken by those persons who s u f f e r e d c l o t h i n g f i r e s and survived.

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FIRE DEATHS OF CHILDREN

This r e p o r t has d e a l t with source o f i g n i t i o n and reason f o r f a t a l i n j u r y f o r a l l f i r e deaths i n c l u d i n g those

of children. When c h i l d r e n a r e concerned, however, another reason must be considered. Since cllildren a r e normally i n someonels c a r e , why was t h i s person unable t o p r o t e c t them before a f i r e o r rescue them during it? For convenience and with no implibation of blame t h i s person w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e tlresponsible person",

o r RF

f o r s h o r t .

Over t h e t w o years 1958-59,

95

c h i l d r e n under seven died i n f i r e s , 12 of th?m through c l o t h i n g f i r e s . I n 87 cases t h e c h i l d was under p a r e n t a l c a r e a t t h e time and i n 54 out of 79 cases t h e "responsible person" was i n t h e age range 21-34. Thus f i r e deaths of i n f a n t s cannot g e n e r a l l y be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e c a r e l e s s n e s s of b a b y s i t t e r s o r t o t h e immaturity o r s e n i l i t y of t h e persons having charge of t h e childrim.

The reasons assigned f o r f a i l u r e t o safeguard t h e c h i l d r e n a r e s e t out i n Table X I I I . Often it has been d i f f i - c u l t t o be c e r t a i n of t h e m o s t accurate c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . For example, t h e heading "responsible person i n t h e same b u i l d i n g b u t s t i l l n o t

i n

time t o save t h e c h i l d " has been used where a more a p p r o p r i a t e heading m i g h t have been found i f f u l l e r information had been a v a i l a b l e . This c l a s s i f i c a t i o n has been used for s e v e r a l cases where t h e

RP

was s l e e p i n g a t t h e time o f t h e f a t a l f i r e .

Inquests

Inquests a r e held on a s u r p r i s i n g l y small proportion of f i r e deaths, and t h e proportion seems t o be f a l l i n g .

27 p e r cent i n 1956 16 p e r cent i n 1957

23 p e r c e n t in 1958 15 p e r cent i n 1959

Table X I V gives some i n d i c a t i o n of t h e q u a l i t y of t h e r e p o r t s on which t h i s survey i s based. The code used i n t h e Table i s a s follows.

Source o f Report

F i r e Section, Division of Building Research Office of t h e Ontario Fire Marshal

Police ??ire Chief Newsclipping

V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Sectf on, R e g i s t r a r General of Ontario

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Reports of types A and

I3

have an advantage over types C and D i n t h a t t h e o f f i c e r s preparing them a r e

s p e c i a l i s t s i n i n v e s t i g a t i n g f i r e s r a t h e r than f i g h t i n g them. The proportion of r e p o r t s of t h e s e types has f a l l e n from 42 t o 32 p e r c e n t s i n c e t h e l a s t r e p o r t . Types A , B , C and D a l l have an advantage over E and VS i n t h a t t h e o f f i c e r preparing them

i s supplied with a questionnaire t h a t has been c a r e f u l l y designed t o e l i c i t t h e information desired. !The proportion of c a s e s wheYe t h e survey depends on r e p o r t s of t y p e s C and D has r i s e n from

45

t o 65 p e r c e n t , while those r e l y i n g on E and VS r e p o r t s have f a l l e n from 13 t o

3

per c e n t .

F i r e deaths i n Ontario continued i n 1958 and 1959 a t about t h e same r a t e a s i n t h e previous f o u r years. No conspicuous new t r e n d s were observed.

REFERENCES

1, Shorter, G.W. and G. Williams-Leir. F i r e deaths i n t h e Province of Ontario, 1954. I n t e r n a l Report No. 72 of t h e Division of Building Research, National

Research Counci'l, Ottawa, September 1955, 20p,

7

Figs. 2. Williams-Leir. G. F i r e deaths i n t h e Province of Ontario.

1955. i n t e r n a l Report No. 86 of t h e L i v i s i o n of

Building Research, N a t i m a l Research Council, Ottawa, ~ e p t e m b e r 1956, 25p,

7

Figs.

3

Williams-Leir, G. F i r e deaths i n t h e Province of Ontario, 1956 and 1957. I n t e r n a l Report No. 124 of t h e

Division of Building Research, National Research Council, Ottawa, January 1959, 30p, 10 Figs.

4.

Williams-Leir, G. Coding manual f o r a n a l y s i s of Ontario f i r e deaths, 1956. I n t e r n a l Report No. 100 of t h e Division of Building Research, National Research Council, Ottawa, September 1956, 21p, 1 fig.

5.

Manual of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S t a t i s t i c a l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of d i s e a s e s , i n j u r i e s and causes of death. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1 9 4 8 , Vol. 1, p. 263, 305-307,

311.

!The l a r g e q u a n t i t y of c l e r i c a l work required by. t h e survey was a b l y c a r r i e d o u t . b y Miss Rena Hutcheon.

(12)

TABLE

I

FIRE DEATHS BY

SEX

AND PRIMARY CLASSIPICA!EQN (1958-59)

-

I C

-

Victim under 7 years of age, c l o t h i n g f i r e IB

-

Victim under 7 y e a r s o f age, b u i l d i n g f i r e

AC

-

Victim aged

7 o r

over, c l o t h i n g f i r e

AB

-

Victim aged

7

o r over, b u i l d i n g f i r e Male Female Total Number of F i r e Deaths IC .?n'

7

5

12

IB

44

39

8 3 AB 125

74

199 AC 29 2

5

54 T o t a l 205 143 348

(13)

TABLE I1

NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT RESULT FROM EACH FATAL FIRE

Number of F i r e s -1958 1959 Deaths p e r F i r e

-

~ m b e r o f T o t a l Deaths 120 1 3 2 1 2 1 1 140 113 1 2 5 3 1

-

134 A 1 2

3

4

5

6

7 -

233 50 21 16 15 6 7 348 i

(14)

r h rn

-

rn V) a a, d r l cu m -,-I 4 0 0 ' ,cl m P u'H 0 - - - -- -- I I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 C - d - O C U c n --

-

rl CV CV 0 d- cu M C- o\ U3 o\ CV

.

d- 0 cn d- M @J M cn a3 rl I I 0 r

.

l cn rl cv CV U3 CV In In a) cu rl cn cn C- rl CV r-i to CU U3 CV U3 cu Ln CV a3 In U3 d- CO to a CV C n Ln a3 M M Ln U3 M cn In d-

s

z

M cn cn M F Ln M cX) CV d- cX) d- a,

E

z

a, .G 0 w m + * d k a o a, .rl

2

.A r l ~a t , &I rl d m m 0

2 0

P I

a

k 0 rl

s

fi

a

%

.rl

O

2

-12

2 -L

D CL) r 5 -

- -

- r, 0 O d - C O c n r l M r l r l O m c u c u r l r l rl L n M r l M 0 3 L n C V I n c u rl I n M C V c u M d - M N n I M rl U 3 C O C V w r l rl d - c u d - d - c u CV rl F r l - 4 - I r l rl rl a 3 d - U 3 C V M CU 0 P d 0

2

H F: a P !

5

* o

do

F1 r l m m

g r l

1

g

s.!

8

P V U3 k 0) m I a d - Am o\ w r l m Ln cn rl a) In rl

.

M

-

cu CV w Ln \O d- o rl cn U3 rl Cn C- rl d- CO rl 0 C- rl rl C- rl M C- rl _.. 0 a d $4 m I rl m 43 H 0 F 4 P m o r l s k . r l a a . - , 4 E P

₅

_Fd

I t "

g

?- m

E

-rl I3 rl t- Ln cn rl m In cn rl * In L n cn rl d- Ln c n rl

(15)

'I'ABLE I V OCCUPANCY ~ c c u ~ a n c ~ R e s i d e n t i a l Unshared s e p a r a t e d w e l l i n 8 Shared s e p a r a t e d w e l l i n g Apartment Rooming house Barracks, e t c . H o t e l Summer c o t t a g e Shack o r one-room d w e l l i n g Dwelling

-

no f u r t h e r p a r t i c u l a r s Other o r mixed S u b t o t a l Fire Deaths i n 1958-59 I C

4 -

1

-

6

-

11 N o n - r e s i d e n t i a l I n d u s t r i a l Mercantile O f f i c e I n s t i t u t i o n , e.g. h o s p i t a l , home f o r aged Place of r e s t r a i n t , e. g. j a i l Place o f assembly P a m o u t - b u i l d i n g S t a t i o n a r y v e h i c l e Outd oors Other o r mixed S u b t o t a l T o t a l

-

I B 62 3 9

-

2 76

-

--

-

1 3 2 1 7 8 3

-

1

-

1 1 2 AC 20 1 5 3

-

1

-

5

-

4 -

-

7

-

2

-

3 2 1 1 9 54 AB 86 5 23 9

_-

9 7 8 9 8 8 1 1 8

-

1 1

5

3 7 3 5 199 T o t a l 172 9 38 1 2

-

1 0 7 8 20 10 1 2 1 1 15

-

3 2 1 2 7 9 62 348

(16)

TABLE V

NATURE OF FATAL INJURY

Nature of P a t a l I n j u r y

Asphyxia

Burns

Carbon monoxide poisoning Other i n j u r i e s T o t a l I F i r e Deaths i n 1958-59 I C

-

1 2

-

1 2 I B 40 37 4 2 8 3 AC

-

54

-

54

AB 78 108 12 1 199 T o t a l 118 211 16 3 348

(17)

TABLE V I

WAS

THE

DWELLING OVERCROWDED

WHERE

A

FATAL BUILDING FIRE OCCURRED?

Square F e e t p e r Person Less t h a n 50 50

-

70 70

-

100 100

-

150 150

-

200 ZOO

-

300 300

-

500 500

-

700 700

-

1000 More t h a n 1000 T o t a l known d e n s i t y Unknown d e n s i t y N o n - r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d i n g f i r e s C l o t h i n g f i r e s T o t a l - Cumulative Percentage 2.1 6.9 18.5 37.2 54 0 69.9 87.0 93.4 96.7 100.0 F i r e Deaths 1955-57 4 1 2 33 5 1 50 30 41 1 7 8 1 0 256 04 47 138 525 1950-59 5 8 16 2 8 2 1 37 31 1 0 6 4 166 74 42 66 348 1955-59 9 20 49 79 7 1 67 72 27 1 4 14 422 158 89 204 873

(18)

TABLE V I I

TWO ASPECTS OF "CAUSE OF FIRE DUTII" (ORTARIO 1958-59)

-

Key: Source of I g n i t i o n Reason f o r F a t a l I n j u r y

1 B u i l d i n g i g n i t e d a s r e s u l t of c l o t h i n g f i r e 21 Asleep i n b u r n i n g b u ~ l d i n g and d i d n o t wake I n 2 P l a y i n g w i t h matches, f l a m e s time t o a t t e m p t escape ( i n o l u d i n g ooma _{induced by d r u g s , l i q u o r , e t c . )} 3 Someone f e l l a s l e e p while smoking _{Trapped by f i r e owing t o :}

4 Other i n s t a n c e s of smoking ₂₂ _{F i r e i n any one of t h e a v a i l a b l e e x i t s} 5 I n j u d i c i o u s use of flammable l i q u i d s ₂₃ _{F a i l u r e t o f i n d e x i t i n d a r k n e s s ,}_{smoke, e t c .} 6 Use of open f l a m e s , w e l d e r s ' s p a r k s , e t o . ₂₄ _{I n a b i l i t y t o open e x i t d o o r}

7 Burning r u b b i s h n o t i n i n c i n e r a t o r ; b o n f i r e s ₂₅ _{Attempt t o warn o r ' s a v e o t h e r ( s )} 8 Fxplosions ₂₆ _{Attempt t o save m a t e r i a l o b j e c t s}

9 S e l f - h e a t i n g o r spontaneous i g n i t i o n ₂₇ _{Loss of judgment due t o f i r e ( e . ~ . , p a n i c )} 1 0 I n c e n d i a r i s m ₂₈ _{Loss of judgment due t o o t h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s}

F a u l t y malntenance o r use o f : ( e . e . , l i q u o r , d r u g s )

E l e c t r i c a l - 29 Being o v e r t a k e n by r a p i d l y s p r e a d i n g f i r e , o r

11 Cooking o r cooking-heating a p p l i a n c e s fumes from t h e f i r e 12 Space-heating a p p l i a n c e s 30 F o r e s t / g r a s s f i r e 1 3 O t h e r , i n c l u d i n g w i r i n g , l i g h t i n g , r a d i o s , 31 Other known r e a s o n s

Christmas t r e e s , e t c . 32 Reasons u n b o r n Non e l e c t r i c a l

-

33 Explosions

14 Cooking o r cooking-heating a p p l i a n c e s 34 I n j u r e d a s a r e s u l t of b e i n g engaged i n f i r e - 1 5 Space-heating a p p l i a n c e s f i g h t i n g o r s a l v a g e o p e r a t i o n s d u r i n e f i r e 16 O t h e r , i n o l u d i n g lamps, chimneys and f l u e s , e t c . 35 Injured because Of panic Of Others present

1 7 F a u l t y d e s i g n of a p p l i a n c e s 36 I n j u r e d by f a l l s , f a l l i n g o b j e c t s , e t c . w h i l e _{e s c a p i n g from f i r e} 1 8 F a u l t y i n s t a l l a t i o n of a p p l i a n c e s _{37 I n f a n t , and no o t h e r r e a s o n a p p l i c a b l e} 1 9 O t h e r known s o u r c e s i n c l u d i n g mechanical f a i l u r e s ( s e e Table X I I I )

n o t a d e q u a t e l y d e s c r i b e d by Nos. 11 t o 18 _{38 Trapped because b e d r i d d e n , i n v a l i d , i n j u r e d} b e f o r e f i r e , o r s e n i l e 39 O t h e r known r e c s o n s 1 2 5 6 7 8 g Source 1 0 of I i t i o n

r a n

2 Deaths) 1 3 14 1 5 16 1 7 18 l g U ~ ~ I I O W ~ - T o t a l Reason f o r F a t a l I n j u r y i n B Deaths Number of D Deaths E 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 B - - - 1 4 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 1 4 1 -3 2 6 - - - 2 - 2 1 - - - - 5 1 2 3 4 1 0 - 1 - 7 - 1 1 - - 1 6 - - - - 4 4 2 6 I - - - 1 - 1 --

-

- - -

-

- - I - - - -1 2 - - - -1 - 1 1 - - - -- - - 1 -

-

- - - 1 5 - - - 1 2 -- -- -- 1 1 - - 1 - - - 3

-

- 1 -

- - - -

- - -

-

- -

2 -

-

- - 1 - - -

- -

-

1 - - ₃ 2 - - - 1 - - - 1 3 - 1 2 - 1 - - 3 - 1 5 l - - - l - l - - - 6 l -- -- -- -- -- -- --

- -

- - I - - - ₁ 1 - 1 -. . . . 1 - - -

-

- 2 1 - - -

-- --

- -

-

- - - 1 - 2 - - - I - - -16 3 1

-

3 - 1 - 1 3

-

- 1 2 - - - 2 27 - 1 21 63 3 2 - 9 2 4 3 38 2 11 24 - 1 1 3 56 7 1 2 4 1 1 14 4 2 38 3 1 3 3 1 9 8 7 29 11 4 - 4 4 100 282 T o t a l C Deaths 5 2 1 2 7 4 2

-

1 5

-

- 9 1 2

-

1 1 5 . 66

(19)

TABLE V I I I

WALL AND CEILING FINISHES I N RESIDENCES WHERE FATAL FIFIXS OCCURRED (OTHER THAN CLOTHING FIRES)

1958-59 .- - - - ..- - - ~ 1 0 = combustible b o a r d , no f u r t h e r d e s c r i p t i o n . 11 = wood 1 2 = plywood 1 3 = s o f t f i b r e b o a r d 1 4 = p r e s s e d paperboard 1 5 = h a r d b o a r d 1 6 = o t h e r o r rnixsd a o m b u s t i b l e 1 2 5 6 0 Il H rl m i= 69 28

-

1 1 - -98 -

-

2

-

3

-

5

-

1 0 3 2 5 6 T o t a l I n c . 1 0 11 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 16 T o t a l Corn. Mixed Corn. and I n c .

Unknovm T o t a l KEY

-

I n c . = incombustible Corn. = combustible 1 = l a t h and p l a s t e r 1 6 6 1 - 2 - 2 8

-- -- -- --

- - -

66 29

-

3

- - - -

2 - -

-- -- -- --

-

2

-

1

- - - -

2 2

-

1

- -

-

- - -

-

6 8 31

-

4 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6

- -

1 1 - -

-- --

3 1 - 1 - 5 - 1

- - -

- -

1

- - -

- 1 3

-

1

-

- -

4 7 - 1 1

-

2 - 1 2

-

- - -

5 - - - -1 20 4 20

-

4

- - -

- 5 - 5 - -1 25 8 27

-

1 4 2 = p l a s t e r b o a r d T o t a l f i r e d e a t h s _{O n t a r i o 1958-59} 5 = c e r a m i c t i l e 6 = oCher o r mixed i n c o m b u s t i b l e N o n - r e s i d e n t i a l C l o t h i n g f i r e d e a t h s 42 66 0 0 0 c2

,,

$ rl 'a m o a i=

.,

B

Srn

8

2 3 4 2 - 1 - 7 - 5 1 1 0 1 - -- 1 4

-

1 - 1 4

-

1 4 9 - -49

-

2 7 - 1 0 - 5 7 66

-

7 1 r-i

g

H 74 34 1 2

_-

I

1 1 7 11 18

-

9 56 7 67 240 1

-

(20)

TABLE IX

PIRE DEPARTIVIENT ATTEHDANCE AT FATAL BUILDING FIRES ( 1958-59)

,

Fire attended solely by l?D of the municipality concerned

Fire attended by another municipal PD

Pire attended by both the above

Fire attended by some other firefighting service, e.g. a works fire brigade

Fire attended by the latter and by municipal PD (s)

No

FD

attended, or not known

whether a

FD

attended Total B Deaths 184 14 18 282

(21)

TABLE

X

S I Z E OF FATAL BUILDING FIRES (1958-59)

Contents only of room where the fire started

Damage confined t o room of origin

Damage oonfined t o story Damage confined t o building Fire extended t o other

buildings

Unknown o r not applicable

Total

B

Deaths 4 19 11 282

(22)

TABLE X I

STYLE AND FABRIC OF GAFtlVl?IX?TS FIRST IGNITED

I N FATAL CLOTHING FIRES (1956-59)

*

The c a s e s a s c r i b e d t o ( s y n t h e t i c s ' a r e a s f o l l o w s : Male Victims: S h i r t T r o u s e r s J a c k e t o r Sweater O v e r a l l s Wjamas D r e s s i n g gown O t h e r Unknown S u b t o t a l Female Victims : Blouse S k i r t o r s l a c k s J a c k e t o r Sweater D r e s s , a p r o n , smock Pyjamas, nightgown D r e s s i n g gown Other Unknown S u b t o t a l T o t a l r a y o n

5

n y l o n

5

o r l o n 1 ' p l a s t i c '

-

1 12

-

C o t t o n 1 6 3 2 6

5

2 4

-

38 1 3

-

'

20

5 -

3

-

32 70 Wool

-

2

-

3

-

1

-

6

-

1

-

1 7 T o t a l 22 7 8 6 8 4 7 32 94 1

7

2 27 1 0 7

_-

18 72 166 S y n t h e t i c F i b r e 1

-

1

-

1

-

3 -

1 1

5

1 1

-

9 12-3 Unknown

3

4 2

-

2 1 3 32 47

-

3 -

2

4

3

-

18 30

77

(23)

T A B L E X I 1

A C T I O N TAKEX BY V I C T I N O F CLO'IXING F I R E

Tried to beat or smother fire

Tried to use water or other extinguishant

Tried to remove clothing

Unable to take effective action because infant, senile or

invalid

No effective action (influence of liquor or drugs)

No effective action (panic)

No need to act: others took action immediately

Other reactions

(24)

TABLE

XI11

INFANTS : REASON PARE:NT OR OTHER IBSPONSIBLE

-

PERSON UNABLE TO SAFEGUARD CHILD

Responsible p e r s o n busy s a v i n g o t h e r p e r s o n ( s ) o r t r y i n g t o Responsible p e r s o n i n j u r e d (non- f a t a l l y ) i n t h e same f i r e ~ e s ~ o n s i b l e p e r s o n i n j u r e d f a t a l l y i n t h e same f i r e

Someone performed hazardous o p e r a t i o n i n p r e s e n c e of i n f a n t

Responsible p e r s o n ' s judgment impaired ( @ , g o by l i q u o r o r d r u g s )

Responsible person' s judgment impaired ( e , g . p a n i c , h y s t e r i c s , e t c . )

Responsible p e r s o n n o t t h e r e , o r n o t i n t i m e , and no f u r t h e r p a r t i c u l a r s

Responsible p e r s o n n o t t h e r e : had l e f t i n f a n t f o r 5 minutes o r more

Responsible person i n same b u i l d i n g a t time of f i r e , b u t was n o t i n time t o save i n f a n t

Other known r e a s o n s

1958-59 I F i r e Victims

(25)

TABLE X I V REPOBTS RECEIVED S o u r c e o f R e p o r t Class A r e p o r t a v a i l a b l e B r e p o r t b u t n o A a v a i l a b l e C r e p o r t b u t n o A o r B D r e p o r t b u t n o A , B o r C E r e p o r t b u t no A , B , C o r D V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s r e p o r t o n l y T o t a l No. o f Cases 1958-59 2'3 89 75 1 5 0 5 6 348

(26)

I

-

1046 CASES

-

I

J F M A M J J A S O N D

FIGURE

I

FIRE DEATH RATE BY MONTH: 1 9 5 4 - 9

FIGURE

2

(27)

I

-

887 _CASES

-

I

FIGURE

3

FlRE DEATH RATE BY TIME OF DAY: 1954-9

0 20 4 0 68 8 0

AGE FIGURE 4

NUMBER' OF FlRE DEATHS ANNUALLY IN ONE-YEAR AGE GROUPS

(28)

AFPENGIX I

N a t i o n a l Hesoarch C o u n c i l D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h F i r e H e s e a r c h S e c t i o n

F i r e F a t a l i t y I n v e s t i g a t i o n Form ( I )

REPORT O M FATAL FIRE

F u l l a d d r e s s of f t r e ( n u m b e r , s t r o e t , - - - l n u n i c i p a l i t y , and county o r d i s t r i c t ) - - - Date of f b e - - -

-

- -:- A.M,,/P.M. it Tirne of o u t b r e a k - -

-

- _-P Time a l a r m r e c e i v e d

- - - -

- - -

- ,,M. EST/EDST 9

Occupancy ( e . g . h o t e l , c l o t h i n g f a c t o r y , e t c . ) I f d w e l l i n g , s t a t e whether f o r one f a m i l y o r more, 6c whether apar*tment, d o u b l e , d u p l e x , s e p a r a t e h o u s e , e t c . I f "mixed occupancy", e , g . p a r t d w e l l i n g , p a r t s t o r e s , s t a t e occupancy f o r e a c h s t o r e y .

Area On a s e p a r x a t e s h e e t , p l e a s e g i v e , Width L e w h

i f o u can, an o u t l i n e s k e t c h p l a n of e a c h ( ~ a s e m e n t / c e l l a r : - f t . f t ,

s t o r e y of t h e b u i l d i n g , w i t h approximate (Ground f l o o r :

-

I - ~ e a s ~ r e n ~ e n t s . Show n o i n t where f i r e s t a r t e d ( H i g h o r s t o r e y s : :ind w h e r e b o d i e s were found.

How many s t o r e y s ? How many p,eople n o r m a l l y

( e x c l u d i n g basement ) - - -

-

- r e s i d e d i n t h e building,? -

- -

-

- - -

- -

:(as basement used' a s l i v i n g q u a r t e r s ? Y ~ S / N O / N O basement e x i s t e d / ~ o n t t know i*

- - - I n t e r i o r f i n i s h of room where f i r e s t a r t e d I w n l l p a p e r e d l a t h 6: p l a s t e r ; p a i n t e d gynsum w a l l b o a r d , e t c . ) - - - - - - ! h e r e d i d f i r e s t a r t , & on which s t o r e y ?

- - -

- - - Bow d i d t h e f i r e s t a r t ? T a ) S o u r c e of i g n i t i o n ( l a m p , r a n e e , e t c , ) - -

-

- - - -

-

- - -

-

- - - -. - - ( b ) Yhat f u e l ( i f a n y ) d i d i t u s e ? ( o i l , g a s , e l e c , ) . - . - - - -

- - - -

- - - - - ( c ) what f i r s t ignited?(curtains,bedding,etc. ) - -

-

- -

-

- -

-

( 3 ) and wlly? (lamp knocked o v e r , p l a y i n g w i t h matches, e t c . )

-

- -

-

- -

-

- - . Was t h e f i r e c o n f i n e d t o : Room of o r i g i n / S t o r e y of o r i g i n / ~ u i l d i n ~ of o r i g i n / _

or d i d i t e x t e n d t o o t h e r b u i l d i n g ( s ) ? H

Did any f i r e dennrtment a t t e n d t h i s f i r e ? - - - -

_

., - - - - - - -

- - -

7 I f y e s , s t a t e which f i r e d e p a r t m e n t , )

- - - - - -

Was t h e r e , or w i l l yes/No

[Tow many d e a t h s f r o m t h i s f i r e ?

-

- - -

- t h e r e b e , a n i n q u e s t ?

Any f u r t h e r remarks ( R e v e r s e s i d e o r s e p a r a t e s h e e t may be u s e d a l s o )

- - - -. - -. - - - -- .-- - - -

-

- A .- . ~ . a - - -

-

- -

E l e a s e send any a v a i l a b l e p h o t o g r a p h s , and s t a t e what payment i s r e q u i r e d . They w i l l be r e t u r n e d i f n o t needed,

PLEASE &SO COMPLETE BLUE FORM; ONE COPY FOR EACS FATALITY.

3:- -. C r o s s o u t whichever does n o t a p p l y .

(29)

N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h Council l l i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g Rese'rc'i F i r e Research S e c t i o n

F i r e F a t a l i t y I n v e s t i p , a t i o n Form (I1 )

REPORT O N FIRE VICTIM

( P l e a s e complete one form f o r each f a t a l i t y )

,Name o f v J c t i m &Y Sex

-

1. B U I L D I N G FIRE

: i ' ~ e r e a b o u t s i n t h e b u i l d i w , d i d t h e v i c t i m o b t a i n ??is i n j u r i e s ?

- -

( v e n t i o n which s t o r e y J

Why was t h e v i c t i m t r a p p e d o r o t h e r w i s e u n a b l e t o e s c a p e ? - - -

- - -

-

2. CLOTHING FIRE I f t h e f a t a l i t y was due t o t h e v i c t i m ! s c l o t h i n g becoming i g n i t e d :

-

How d i d t h i s happen?

- -

-

- -

-

- - -

-

- - - ...

- - - -

- - - ':/hat d i d t h e v i c t i m and -- o t h e r s p r e s e n t do about i t ? -

-

- - -

-

- - - - . - - . - - - - - - - - - -

What was t h e t y p e of p;arment f i r s t i g n i t e d ? ( s h i r t , s k i r t , e t c . )

- - -

F a b r i c : s t a t e main c o n s t i t u e n t ( c o ~ t o n , w o o l , e t c . )

- - - -

- -

- - -

-

- I f a v a i l a b l e , p l e a s e send an unburnt p i e c e o f t h e i g n i t e d garment,

i f p o s s i b l e a s q u a r e f o o t o r more.

3. INFANT I f t h e v i c t i m was a c ' l i l d less t h a n seven y e a r s old:- Who was t h e y e r s o n i n charhe of o r r e s - p 2 n s i b l e f o r t h e c h i l d ?

( e . ~ . p a r e n t , b a b y s i t t e r , s t c . ) 1

Now o l d was

- - - t h i s p e r s o n ? - -

- -

Was t h e r e s ~ ~ o n s i b l e person w i t h t h e c h i l d : i n t h e same room? -

-

- -

- - -

-

same s t o r e y ? - - -

-

- Sarqe b u i l d i n g ? _-_,_{- -}_-_-_-- 3

-

i f n o t , how

f a r away was he/she? - - - -

- - -

- . - - -

- - - -

- - -

I f t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n was

not

i n t h o same b u i l d i n g a s t h e c h i l d a t

t h e t i m e of t h e f i r e , how l o n g had he/she been away? - - - - --a - - - -

I f t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n w a s t h e r e , why was he/she unable t o s a f e ~ u a n d

t h e i n f a n t ? _{- - -}

4. if t h e q u e s t i o n s above do n c t f i t t h e c i r c ~ u n s t a n c e s , p l e a s e give y o u ~ o m account on a n o t h e r s h e e t , or on t h e back of t l d s one.

(30)

A-3

N a t f o n n l R e s e ~ r c h C o u n c i l D i v i s i o n of Huildinp: R e s e a r c h F i r e R e s e ~ r c h Sec t l o n .

FIRE FATALITY INVESTIGATION I1'OHM I11

1. Name of Deceased: Surname : 2. Sex: 4 . Date of d e a t h : 5. P l a c e of d e a t h : Gfven names: 3. Age: Month by name: Reg* No, Year: 6 , P l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e :

Date o f f i r e o r e x p l o s i o n : Month by name: Year:

id

f a t a l f f r e o r e x p l o s i o n o c c u r a t home, i n i n d u s t r y , o r in a p u b l i c p l a c e ? How was t h e i n j u r y s u s t a i n e d ? 10. Nature of i n j u r y and c a u s e of d e a t h : 11. Was t h e r e an a u t o p s y ? An i n q u e s t ? 1 2 . F i n d i n g s o f a u t o p s y and/or v e r d i c t of i n q u e s t : 13. Any f u r t h e r p a r t i c u l a r s : V/S Code No. Date of r e p o r t : Form r e v i s e d 7/56 S i g n a t u r e : Regis t r a r - G e n e r a l s ~ f f i c