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Fire fatalities in the province of Ontario in 1954 investigated by the fire research section
Rear view of specially equipped panel truck used for fire investigations. (PhotQ: Capital · Press Service)
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA
DIVISION OF BUILDING RESEARCH
FIRE FATALITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO IN
1954
INVESTIGATED BYTHE FIRE RESEARCH SECTION by C. G. Burnet·c
Report No. 71
Division of Building Research
OTTAWA
PREFACE
The Fire Research Section of the Division of Building Research has, since its inception in 1950j supplemented its laboratory studies by investigations at actual fireso These field investigations, which have in the main been confined to the Ottawa area, were undertaken to gain practical experience and to act as a guide to needed researcho The purpose of these investigations has been to study the actual effect of fire on buildiqgs •. Observations are made concerning the
influence of construction and building materials, the influence of the contents of the building, and the effects of radiation on the spread of fireo To facilitate these studies, a mobile unit was purchased in 1952 and equipped with instruments j a camera, protective clothing, tools and equipment (see frontis-pie ce) 0
In 1954 this study of fires was broadened by the start of a more detailed study of fatalities which occur at the time of fires in b utLdtngs , As a start it was decided to limit this study to fire fatalities in the Province of Ontarioo The fullest co-operation was immediately promised by all the provincial authorities concerned with such deathso Special acknowledgment must be made of the assistance of the Fire Marshal of Ontario, Mr. Wo Jo Scott, OoBoEo j QoCo
To supplement information received from provincial and municipal officials, the work of field investigations of fires was expanded to include as many as possible of the fires in Ontario at which deaths occurredo This report contains
summaries of the field reports of all such fires investigated dur-Lng 1954 by the Sectiono A companion report, No , 729 pr-e« pared by Go Wo Shorter and Go ｗｩｬＱｩ｡ｭｳｾｌ･ｩｲＬ presents a ｳｴｾｴｩｳﾭ
tical analysis of all fire fatalities in Ontario during 1954. It will be obvious that these first reports are of a preliminary character but they are produced for critical review by those directly interested in this vital problemo Comments are j therefore, solicited and constructive suggestions for the improvement of this important work and the recording of its results will be valued.
Ottawa
October 1955
Robert F. Legget, Director
FIRE FATALITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO Ili 19$4 INVESTIGATED BY
THE FIRE RESEARCH SECTION
by Co G. Burnett
The Fire Research Section of the Division of Building Research began, in
1954,
a study of all the fire fatalities in the Province of Ontario. A great deal of the information in thisstudy was supplied by provin\:.ial and munieipal fire officials and is contained in DBR Report Noo 72. The Fire Research ｓ･ｾｴｩｯｮ
believed, however, that its ｩｮｴ･ｲ･ｳｾ in this project should be
emphasized by undertaking a number of investigations. Accordingly, during this first year of the study, members of the Section investi-gated 12 fatal fires which accounted for 26 fire fatalities. Four of these fires occurred in Ottawa and eight in other sections of the Province, which resulted in approximately
3,500
miles oftravelling. Because of the size of the Provinces complete ooveraga by the Section was impossible but the mobile unit enlarged the
area that could be promptly lnvestigated. Data Reported
Much time was devoted to determining what data should be reported, bearing in mind that the data should lend themselves to standardized reporting.. It was not until some time after
beginning this study that a final re00rd form was arrived at9 a
specimen of which comprises Appendix A of this Report. The data requested in this form have been kept to a minimum. Durlng the course of an investigation by the Fire Research Section these data are supplemented by photographs0 drawings of floor ｰｬ｡ｮｳｾ and
newspaper accounts of the fire o
Notification of a Fatal Fire
To keep up to date on all fires, members of the Fire Research Section scan LocaL newspapers and listen to news br-oad» casts on the radio. Upon hear-ing of a f.atal fire, a·two-man team is immediately dispatched9 if it is within a reasonable
driving distance and other circumstances are favourable. This immediate dispatch has been facilltated by administrative
- 2 .,.
Co-operation with Fire Offlcials
The interest that fire authorities have in this study is vividly demonstrated by the co-voper-at.Lon given to the Section
during these investigations. This ｣ｯｾｰ･ｲ｡ｴｩｯｮ is also expressed
in the many incidents of fatal fires which the Fire Research Section cannot attend, by the completion of the "Fire Fatality Report" form. When members of the Section arrive at the scene of a fatal fire they discuss the fire with the local fire officials and with the inve stigator from the Ontario Fire !-1arshalvs Offi.\,;e if he is present. This greatly facilitates the work as these officials generally have questioned those persons who have a knowledge of the fire. Such information includes the action of those in the building at the time of the fire, the location of the bodies, and the immediate cause of the loss of life.
Nature of Fatal Injury
. Information on the nature of the fatal injury is supplied at a later date by the Vital Statistics Section of the Ontario Registrar-GeneralIs Office. The Vital Statistics Section completes a form which is sent to the Fire Research Section and contains the information supplied on the death certificate" Investigation Procedure
Members of the Fire Research Section, following
discussions with fire ｯｦｦｩ｣ｩ｡ｬｳｾ also discuss the fire with people who are at the scene and have a knOWledge of the fire. They then
survey the building to obtain details of its ｣ｯｮｳｴｲｵ｣ｴｩｯｮｾ with particular reference to finish ｭ｡ｴ･ｲｩ｡ｬｳｾ strl1ctural frameF and exit facilities. An attempt is then made to trace the spread of the fire and to ascertain what ｩｮｦｬｵ･ｮｾ･ this had on the failura to escape of those who died as a ｲ･ｳｵｬｾ of the fire. Measurements are taken of the various areas in the building and floor plans are drawn showing the location of the bod Lea, Photographs of both the exterior and interior of the building are taken to illustrate a number of these points.
Summary
This report does not present comprehensive and detailed statements concerning those fatal fires investigated by the Fire Research Section, but rather gives concise summaries illustrating the work involved in this study. It is hoped that the ｳｵｭｭ｡ｲｩ･ｳｾ
together with the photographs and floor plansj will reveal the
significant features of each fire investigated. A statistical analysis of the fire fatalities which occurred in the Province of Ontario in
1954:.-
is given in D.B .. R. Report Noo 72 "Fire l"at a l i ties in the Province of Ontarioｾ1954"
0=
3
-National Research Counsil Division of Building Researoh
Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY ｾｯｯ ＱＱＵｾ
Location: Hornby, (rural area); Halton County.
Date of fire:
7
Feb.9 ＱＹＵｾｯTime of fire: 100
15
pomoｏ｣｣ｵｰ｡ｮﾣｬｾ Farm dwelling
ｄ･｡､ｾ
3 -
1 maleg age50
years;2 females, ages 18 and 16 years. Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene of this fire on 8 Febos
19540
Structure. - The building was approximately 30 by 30 feet, wood-frame construction on stone foundation, ｬｾ storeys in height. The pitched roof was covered with wood shingleso . A covered wooden veranda extended across the front of the dwelling on the ground ｦｬｯｯｲｾ The ground floor consisted of living room, dining room) kitchen and one bedroom
(Fig. 1).
A stairway between the kitchen and the bedroom
extended to the first floor-0 The first floor was divided
into two bedrooms by wooden partitions (Fig. 2).
Interior walls and ceilings were lath and plaster. 2.
4.
Heating ｅｱｵｩｬｭ･ｮｾｯ = The dweLi Lng was heated by two st oves, one In the k tchen and one in the dining room o Pipes from both stoves led to a bracket chimne¥ on the wall separating the kitchen and dining room (Fig. 1)0 The chimney extended through the front bedroom to the roof o
Occupancy. - The farm dwelling was occupied by a family of etgfit. Seven members of the family were in the dwelling at the time of the fireo
Summary. - All occupants of the dwelling were asleep at the tIme of the fire. The parents sleeping in the ground floor bedroom woke up to find the house full of smoke and the fire
spreading in the wall supporting the bracket chimney. The father was asphyxiated in attempting to rescue the two girls in the first-floor bedroom, who were also asphyxiated.
Comments. - Many old farm dwellings have single brick chimneys that accommodate cooking and heating units us-ing wood and coal for fuelD creating a fire hazard. This condition was probably responsible for an over=heated chimney allowing the fire to spread to the walls.
-4-FIRE... FATALITY STUDY
N2
ＱｾＵＴRE.AR.
©
/JtDR.OOM'./4.'. t,fJllRl FArNeR FOUNt)
"e/-
ｾ GIR.L5 FOliNO IN ClLLARsetov
DINING ROOM'c':
ｐＬＴＮｒ･ＮｎｔｾＧ l3l.0R00/)1 VERMIDA'ROUND
FLOOR. ＱｊｾｦＩｒｏｏｍ@
®
FIG.
ｾ STAIR> ＸｾｦＩｒｏｏｍFIRST FLOOR
'.0'- 2 80YG eSCApE./) OUT
OF REAR h/INOOhl
5
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
2/54
Scarborough
(urban area), York Township • Location:
Date of fire:
.3
March1954.
Time of fire: 8 a.m.
Occupancy: Dwelling.
ｾＺ 2 - 1 male, age
.3
[ears; 1 female, age '1ear s• Members ot the Fire Research Section visited the scene ot this tire onFLOOR
ARE.A
4
March1954.
B
jSEP
I
ＱｬＧ＾ｾｄ I
!sroye.[
AFIG.
8
'A"-lIl/eRE FIRe 5'TARTEO 'B!.Iv'f./ERe. c,IIILOReN FOU/JO
1. Structure. - The building was a one-room dwelling
18
feet wIde,18
feet long, of wood-frame construction, built on cement block foundation. Wood fibreboard was used as both exterior and interior finish on the walls ot the building. The roof was pitched, covered with rollroof-ing. Loose rock wool was placed between the ceiling and root. The dwelling had one door and two windows
(Fig •
.3).
Heating_ - Heating and cooking were maintained b'1 a coal and wood stove that had been converted into an oil
burner.
ｯ｣｣ｵｴ｡ｮ｣ｾＮ - The building was occupied as living quarters for wo amilies, each having two children. At the time of the fire one woman and four children were in the
dwelling.
4.
Summary. - On discover,. of the fire on the floor at the 011 stove the woman occupant took two of the children outside after receiving severe burns. The fire advanced rapidl'1 over combustible board walls and ceiling,preventing further rescue. The two other children were found under the bed asphyxiated.
Comments. - This one-room dwelling was extremely crowded. LeakIng
011
lines attached to converted oil stoverequired a drip pan to be placed on the floor. The floor area below the oil tank was saturated with 011. Ignition may have been caused by the careless disposal of cigarettes in this area.
6
-National Re8earch Council Division of Building Research
Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
3/54
E N W Fig.
4
(BR3693)
SLocation: North Bay,
(urban area), Nipissing County. Date of fire: 21 March 1954.
Time of fire: 4 a.m.
Occupancy: Dwelling
Dead: 1 male, age 77 years. Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene on 22 March 1954.
1.
4.
Structure (Fig.4). - The building was approximately
30
feet wIde,50
feet long, of wood-frame construction, two storey8 high, clad on the outside with ｣ｬｾｰ｢ｯ｡ｲ､Ｎ The pitched roof was covered with wood shingles. The ground floor consisted of kitchen and living room. Rear stairway extended from kitchen to first floor (Fig.5). The first floor had two bedrooms. Interior walls and ceiling were lath and plaster. Heating. - The dwelling was heated with a furnace in the cellar and a coal and wood stove in the kitchen.occutancy• - The dwelling was occupied by the owner who was iving alone at the time of the fire.
Summary. - A couch was located at the rear wall in the kitchen (Fig.5). During the evening the victim, who was a heavy smoker, possibly fell asleep while smoking, setting the couch on fire and receiving burns to his arms and legs. On waking, he may have thought the fire extinguished, and walked to his bedroom above the kitchen. The couch
continued to burn, setting fire to the rear wall (Fig.6). Hot smoke and gases advanced up the rear stairway, asphyXi-ating the victim in his bedroom before the fire was
discovered burning at the rear of the building (Fig.7)o Commentso - The material involved in this class of fire would smoulder for some time, releasing hot smoke and gases. Plaster walls and ceilings with closed kitchen doors (Fig.8) prevented the fire from spreading within the dwelling. The open rear stairway in the kitchen permitted hot gases to rise to the first floor.
7
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
3/54
A. Fire burnt through rear wall.
\j
\J
FIG .. S
KITCI-IEN
ｾ ..- rt"lIeRE FIRe GTARTcD ·
"B"- FIRe. !iPRE.AD (BR
3672)
Fig. 6 Section ot kitchen Fig.8
(BR3673)
Fig.7
Rear wall (BR3675)
B. Closed door prevented
- - - --
8
-National Research Council Division o£ Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
4154
Front view o£ dwelling
Location: Galt (urban area), Waterloo County •. Date o£ fire: 3 April 1954 Time o£ £ire: 10.50 p.m.
OCCUpancI: Dwelling
4 -
2 males, ages 7 months and 4 years; 2 £ema1es, ages 3 yearsand 13 years. Members o£ the Fire Research
Section visited the scene on 6 April 1954.
.!2!!!!:
(BR %94) Fig.
9
4.
structure. - The building was 28 feet wide,
54
feet long,It
storeys high, of wood-rrame construction. The front section was olad with 1m1tation brick and stone siding andthe rear addition was stucco covered. The pitched roof was covered with asphalt shingles (Fig.9). The interior finish 01' the front section was lath and plaster. The rear addition of the building where the fire occurred (Fig.10) contained two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and toilet with entrance at the rear. The interior finish of the kitchen and toilet was i-inch tongue and groove soft lumber covered with several coats of paint. The remaining rooms were lath and plaster covered with wallpaper.
Heatie!- - 'l'he rear section of the building was heated by
2
ｑｵ･ｾ｣ stoves, one in the kitchen, one in the living room, each burning coal (Figs.11,12). .ｯ｣｣ｵＱｲ｡ｮ｣ｾＮ - The building accommodated two families, one in the ｯｮｾ section and one in the rear with no connecting entrance. At the time of the fire three children and a baby sitter were asleep in the apartment at -the rear of the dwelling.
ｳｾＮ
-
The fire originated at the rear of the Quebec ｾｩｮ the kitchen, rapidly spreading to the walls and ceiling (Fig.11). smoke and gases extended to the living room and bedrooms through open doorways, aspby%1ating the four occupants.Comments. - Overcrowded conditions prevailed in this ama11 apartment. Lack of doors to adjoining rooms allowed for the rapid spread of the £11'e and with the only exit from the rear of the kitchen cut off by fire the children were prevented from escaping. Some of the children who had left their beds in an attempt to escape were found on the 1'1001' (Fig.14).
9
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
4154
FiS. 10 (BR 3674)
Addition to rear
ot
building.FiS. 13 (BR3676)
D. Where bab,.-sitter was found.
5/AIK cauc» ｔｏｉｌｾｔ
ｉＮＮＮＭ｟ＭｾＮＮＮＮｊｾＬＮＭＬＭｊ
ｾｉ
fOVNO litRE./'!:IV"""
ｾｏｏｍ"V
'liMP. I KI ｃｉｉｾＱｴＯ I''t/l-
,tllleRe FIRe ｾ t;TARTEo
I
fOJ!-..lIP ｉｉｾｅＮJlJ
'D-- \.I1It.R.£ 8ABY SITTER
I \
Ｕｔｏｖｾｕ'lAG FOUND c===:1
ｾＧＢ ClI1LO OlEO litRE
FIG. 14 V R £ A R OOOR,
Fig. 11 (BR 3677)
!:.
Where fire originated.Fig. 12 (BR3678)
c.
Where one child died. ｾ Where child found.·10
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
s
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.5/54
Dead: 1 female, age 8 months. Members ot the Fire Research Section visited the scene on
6
April1954.
Location: Crestwood Road
(rural), Vaughan Twsp. Date ot tire:
5
April1954
W Time of tire: 7.10 p.m. E N Fig.
15
(BR3679)
Occupancy: Dwelling 1. 2.4.
structure. - The building was approximately 22 feet long.
1$
feet wide, 1 storey high, ot prefabricated ｷｯｯ､Ｍｴｲｾ･construction, built on a cement block foundation. The interior of the building had not been completed. The ceiling and north wall were clad with combustible fibre-board. The partitions separating the three rooms in the
interior ot the dwelling were of unclad wood stUdding. Heating.. - The building was heated by a Quebec heater 10catiCI in the basement and an oil space heater on the main floor.
Ｒｾ｣ｴｨ｡ｮｾｴ［ - The building was occupied by a family of three. e e of the fire the child was alone in the dwelling, sleeping in a crib.
Summary. - The fire originated in the kitchen from material that had boiled over on the electric stove setting fire to the interior wood-frame and spreading rapidly through open partitions and combustible board ceilings to the entire dwelling before being detected. The rapid spread of tire prevented rescue (Fig.IS).
Comments. - Investigation showed that the ｦｾｩｬｹ had
recently purchased a new electric stove, with each of the tour burners having an eight-way selective switch. The
oven elements were controlled by an ordinary one-way switch. With this type of switch there is a strong possibility that the switch was not completely turned off under the deep trier, that contained grease, before the woman left the dwelling (leaving the child alone).
11.
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
6/54
s
Location: K1tley Township, (rural) •
Date ot fire:
29
May1954
W Time of fire:
7
p.m.Farm dwelling Occupancy:
2 - 1 male, age 3 years;
1 female, age 10 years. Members of the Fire Research
Section visited the scene on
31
May1954.
Dead: -N Fig. 16 (BR 3310) E 1. 2.4.
Structure. - The building was approximately 30 feet in width,
40
teet In length and was two storeys high. It was ot wood-frame construction, built on stone foundation. The pitched roof was covered with wood shingles. The interior tinishot the walls and ceilings was combustible board, wood, lath and plaster covered with wallpaper.
Ｒｴ｣ｴｨ｡ｮｴｾ - The farm dwelling accommodated a family of ten. e e of the fire the mother and three of the children were in the building.
ｳｵｭｭｾＮ
-
The tire apparently originated in the kitchendur
ｾ a violent lightning storm, spreading rapidly through the interior ot the dwelling. It was reported that a ball of fire was seen in the vicinity of the propane gas stove located in the kitchen, atter lightning had struck the building.Comments. - Investigation showed that the building had lIghtnIng rod installations, but owing to the complete destruction ot the dwelling no check could be made tor proper grounding. It was reported that an aerial
installation had been attached to the chimney, which was higher than the lightning rods, with the aerial wire
extending into the kitchen. This may have been responsible tor the tlash of tire being carried into the kitchen,
12
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
6/54
Fig. 17 (BR 3311)
A. Propane gas installation
B.
Propane gas stove.KITCJ.lEIJ 00
@
@
00 I IL __
SIIe.o ｾａｓ TAJJK5/I
ｲＮＺＺＺ］ＺＺ［Ｚ］］］ｩｩ］ＯＲＮ］･］ａｾｱＮ Eｎｾ Ｌ ｔｾｒ［ａ］ａＱｾｃｾｃｾＺｩＺＺ］ＺＺｃＺＺＺＺＺＺＺＺＺ［Ｇｉ@
C.OAL AND './000ｓｔｏｖｾ©
0 0 ｊ］］］ＺＺＺＺＺＺＺＡＡ］］ｾ FROJJT £NTR,A.IJGE.. 1.1 VING ROOM VERANOA FIG. /8A,8, h/I-IEt:2£ BOOI£S pOl/AID
13
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY 8TUDY No. 7/54
Location: Ottawa (urban), Carleton County.
Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene on 7 June 1954.
7 June 1954 10.15 a.m.
Occupancy: Clothing factory; furniture storage. Dead: 3 females, ages 31, 60 and
69 years. Date of fire:
Time of fire:
Fig. 19 (BR 3305)
1. Structure. - The building was approximately 50 feet in width,
100
feet long, two storeys high, with full basement, of brick construction. The flat roof was covered with tar and gravel. The basement and first flcor, with the exception of a small area in the front used as an office, contained furniturestorage (Fig.19). The interior walls, ceiling and partitions were clad with combustible board (Fig.20). Two interior
stairways extended to the second floor, one at the front and one at the rear of the ground floor. One exterior steel drop-ladder fire escape was located on the east side of the building, leading from a window in the clothing factory
(Figs.21,22). Windows were located only on the east side and front of the building. A freight elevator was located in the centre of the building.
Occupancz. - The building was used as a furniture warehouse and clotliing factory. At the time of the fire about 25 employees were ' in the building, mostly women operating machines in the clothing factory (Fig.23).
4.
Summary. - The fire was discovered in the basement by a ware-house employee who attempted to extinguish the flames and, on failing to do so, left the building to remove his car from the yard. The fire advanced rapidly up the freight elevator to the second floor, cutting off escape by the front stairway
(Fig.21). Factory employees, mostly elderly women, were forced to escape out of the window and down the fire escape. Three perished in the fire on the factory floor.
Comments. - The class and amounts of materials stored in the basement would release dense smoke and gases up the open elevator shaft to the second floor. With the front stairway cut off, some difficulty would be experienced by the elderly women-escaping by way of the fire escape, which required using a chair as step to the window sill (Fig.23). The exterior drop ladder on the fire escape passed by a window where smoke and fire had broken through, requiring some employees to jump to the ground (Fig.21).
14
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
7/54
ｾＮ 20 (BR 3306 )
Combusle board walls and ce ilings. ｆｪｾＮ 21 (BR 3307) Drop 1a er passing lower window. 5/NG R.OOM RE.J.R. '5TAlRt:; ｾ ＧｊＭＭｾ
ＭＭＭＭ
ＭＺＺ］ｾ＿
l
E./...eVAToR FURNITLlp.e L.!:::=:=:;::==::::::;t §.IORAGE. OFFiceFIG.ｾＴ (A,8,C)-1.JIIERE. BODIES FOU}./lJ IN PACTORY
Fig. 22 (BR 3308) Chair step to fire escape.
Fig. 23 (BR 3309) Factory machine area.
15
-National Research Council Division of Bui1dirig Research Fire Research Section
Occupancy:
N FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
8/54
Location: Mille Roches (rural area), Stormont County.
Date of fire: 29 Sept. 1954 E Time of fire: 08.00 a.m.
Mixed, mercantile and residential.
Dead: 2 - 1 male, age
4
years; 1 female, age 2 years. SFig. 25 (BR 3301) A-Restaurant; B-Post Office;
C-Restaurant.
Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene of this fire on 30 Sept. 1954.
1.
2:..
4.
Structure. - The building was approximately 50 feet wide,
50
feet long, and was 2 storeys high; of wood-frame construc-tion, clad on the outside with imitation brick siding. The roof was flat, tar-and-gravel. Interior finish of walls, ceilings and partitions was combustible wallboard.ｾ｣｣ｵｾｾＱｦＮ - Two restaurants and post office, ground floor ron g.25); 3 apartments, ground floor rear (Fig.26). On the first floor there were two apartments. At the time of the fire there were 22 people in the apartments.
Summary. - The fire originated in the rear apartment (Fig.26) at the NE. side of the building, and spread rapidly through the interior of the building. The" owner of the restaurant at the SW.side of the building (Fig.25) occupied a one-room
apartment, with his wife and 2 children, at the rear of the post office in the centre of the building (Fig.26). They were working in the restaurant at the time of the fire, leaving the 2 children, who later died, alone in bed in their apartment. Investigation showed that the boy, age 4 years, while apparently trying to escape, had walked
into the clothes closet adjacent to the rear doorway (Fig.28). He was found asphyxiated, leaning against the wall of the
closet. The girl, age 2 years, was found asphyxiated in bed (Fig.29).
Comments. - The type of construction and the overcrowded condItIons permitted in this building contributed to the rapid spread of fire.
16
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No. 8/54
S
A
B
E
N
Fig. 26 (BR 3202)
A. Where fire started ｾ Where lives lost
Fig. 28 (BR 3303)
o
FIG . 1)7 'SKeTcH
or
ONE.-ROOM O\./l:.LL ING
Fig. 29 (BR 3304)
Fig. 28 - A - Male, ｡ｾ･
4
years, found in clothes closet Fig. 29 - B - Female 2 years, found in bed17
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No. 9/54
Location: Ottawa
(urban area), Carleton County. Date of fire: 6 November 1954.
Time of fire: 1.15 a.m.
Occupancy: Apartment
Dead: 1 male, age 61 years.
Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene on 6 November 1954.
1.
Fig. 30 (BR 3298)
Structure. - The building was approximately 40 feet wide,
75
feet long and 3 storeys high. Construction was of brick and stone, with a flat roof covered with tar-and-gravel(Fig.30). The interior walls and ceilings were lath and plaster, wallpaper covered.
0tcthantt. - The building accommodated ten apartments and a e me of the fire there were approximately fifty
people in the building, many requiring rescue. The apartment involved in fire had two occupants; one died of suffocation and the other received severe burns before being rescued from a living room window (Fig.31).
Summary. - The fire originated in the kitchen of an apart-ment on the ground floor, spreading to the walls and
ceiling before being detected. The fire was discovered by a roomer in the apartment, who, after informing the tenant of the fire, returned to his bedroom, where he was later found asphyxiated (Fig.32).
Comments. - The construction of the building prevented the fIre from making rapid headway, but smoke and gases released from the burning materials penetrated to the adjoining open rooms. The kitchen, involved in fire, was located at the apartment entrance doorway, preventing the escape of the occupants (Fig.33).
18
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
9/54
Fig. 32 (BR 3299)
h
Where body was foundFig. 33 (BR 3300) Apartment, entrance, hallway
ｾ
@
5f.D BATH KJrc.HE.N BeDRooMr-
1\
C-
HALS'VAY", Af'T- ENTRANCT
IJ
@
DINING AND LIVING ROOM FIG. 31 Pl.-AN OF ａｐａｾｔｍｅＺｎｔ Ｇａｾ ｖｈｦＮｒｾ eODY FOUND Ie" \v'HE.RE.. FIRE. STARTE..D19
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No. 10/54
Occupancy: Dwelling
Location: Toronto (urban area), York County.
Date of fire: 6 November 1954. Time of fire: 2 a.m.
Dead:
5 -
3 males, ages 31, 11 and 6 years; 2 females, ages 2 and1 year. Fig. 35
(BR 3293)
Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene on 8 November 1954.
3.
4.
5.
Structure. - The building was approximately 40 feet wide,
50
teet long, and was two storeys high, of wood-frame construction with brick front and lath and stucco on the sides and rear. The flat roof was covered with tar-and-gravel (Fig.35). The building contained six rooms, three on each floor. All rooms were originally lath and plaster covered with wallpaper. Owing to the breaks in the plaster, the kitchen, hallways and some of the bedrooms were clad with combustible board.Heatias. - A Quebec heater was located in the hallway on the groun floor. The kitchen had a wood and coal burning stove. Occupancy. - The first floor was occupied by a family of six. The second floor accommodated a family of seven. At the time of the fire twelve of the occupants were in the building.
ｓｵｭｭｾＮ - The fire originated at the rear of the kitchen
ｳｴｯｶｾｆｩｧＮＳＶＩ and spread rapidly to combustible board walls and ceilings in the kitchen and hallways (Figo31). Heat
and gases ascended the open staircase, asphyxiating five of the six occupants sleeping on the second floor. The occup-ants on the ground floor were not aware of the fire Until told by one of the children who discovered the fire and escaped. Their bedroom doors were closed.
Comments. - Combustible board on the walls and ceiling of the kItchen provided fuel for the rapid spread of fire to the open hallway where it advanced up the staircase.
Smoke and gases entering the open bedrooms at the top of the stairs asphyxiated the occupants while they slept.
Crowded conditions existed on both floors of this dwelling. The kitchen walls and ceiling were sheeted with combustible board contrary to city by-laws.
20
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
10/54
Fig.
36
(BR3294)
Fig.37
(BR3295)
Where fire started Combustible board walls
FIG·40 qeCOND FLOOR. pLAN
"'A N h/flE.RE. 8001/:5 pOUND
Fig.
38
(BR3296)
Fire advanced in hall and staircase. Bedroom doors were closed.
Fig.
39
(BR3297)
stair landing and front bedroom where bodies found.
21
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No. 11154
Location: Ottawa (urban area), Carleton County. Date or fire: 23 December 1954 Time of fire: 11.00 a.m.
Occupancy: Dwelling
Dead: 1 male, age 56 years. Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene on 23 December 1954. 1. 2.
4.
Fig. 41 (BR 3312)Structure. - The building was approximately 25 feet wide,
45
feet long and was three storeys high. It was of wood-frame and brick construction. The interior finish of the walls and ceilings was lath and plaster, painted andpapered.
EcctKantY. - Some of the rooms in the dwelling were rented y e enant to roomers. At the time of the fire the
victim was alone in his room on the third floor. The tenant occupied the ground floor.
Summary. - The fire originated in a bedroom on the third
floor and was discovered by one of the occupants on the
ground floor, who smelled smoke and investigated. Investiga-tion showed that considerable cigarette smoking was evident in the room. The victim, who was a night employee, had fallen asleep, setting fire to the mattress (Fig.42). The type of material involved created a smouldering fire,
releasing hot smoke and gases which asphyxiated the occupant while sleeping.
Comments. - The room in which the fire occurred was 12 feet long and 10 feet wide. The small window on the east side of the building and the entrance door to the room were closed, retarding the fire. Lath and plaster interior construction of the room prevented the fire from spreading (Figs.43,44).
22
-FIRE FATALITY STUDY No.
11/54
Fig.
4?
(BR3313)
ｑｾｊＮｬａｉｒＮ
Fig.43
(BR3314)
ｃＮｌｏｔｉＭｉｅＮｾ ｟f
CLOG£.r ｾI
TAt!JLEFIGo 44
23
-National Research Council Division of Building Research Fire Research Section
FIRE FATALITY STUDY No. 12/54
Time of fire: 2.30 a.m.
Location: ottawa (urban area), Carleton County.
Date of fire:
2P
December 1954.ｾＺ 1 female, age 30 years. Members of the Fire Research Section visited the scene on 26 December 1954. Mixed, mercantile and residential. Occupancy: Fig.
45
(Photo by Newton) 2.1. Structure. - The building was approximately 30 feet wide,
50
feet long. It was of wood-frame construction, two storeys high. The pitched roof was covered with wood shingles. The entrance to the dwelling was from the east side of the building. The interior walls and ceilings of the apartments in the front section of the building were lath and plaster, papered. The apartment at the rear of the building, in which the fire occurred, was wood frame, with walls and ceilings covered with thick layers of paper insulation. A cement block one-storey building with flat roof was constructed the width of the building at thefront, and used as a store (Fig.45). .
ｾ｣､ｵｓ｡ｮ｣ｉＮ - The building, formerly a single residence, a een converted into three apartments and a store. At the time of the fire the victim was alone in her apartment, which normally accommodates three persons.
summar!. -
The fire originated in the vicinity of thedomest c oil heater used for heating the 3-room apartment, spreading rapidly to walls and ceilings. ｓｭｯｾ･ and gases extended into the adjacent room, asphyxiating the occupant before the fire was discovered.
4.
Comments. - The section at the rear, formerly used as a shed, had been converted into a 3-room apartment. The class of construction and the lack of doors on adjoining rooms permitted the rapid spread of fire and hot gases, so that the occupant of the apartment was asphyxiated while attempting to escape. Crowded conditions existed throughout the entire building.APPENDIX ItA"
FIRE FATALITY REPORT DIVISION OF BUILDING RESEARCH
Nat iona l Re s e ar ch CO\Ulcil Di vi s i on of Bui l d ing Re s e ar ch Ott awa 2 , Canada
Fir e Re s e ar ch Sect i on FIRE FATALITY REPORT
(Please return to the above addr e s s wh en complete.)
p . m.
-
--a . m.
----(number , str eet , city, etca )
(clot hing factory, hotel, dwelling , etc.) (day,month, year)
Ma j or 0c cupancy _ _ＭＬＭｾＮＮＮＬＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＭ｟ＭＭＬＺ＼ＧＢ｟ＮＭＭＭ _ _ .---:--...----:;_-.;-:::-;-_ _--:-_..- _
Name Address
ＭＭＬＭＭＭＭＭＭＭＺＭＭＭｾＭ (owner or t enant) ＭＭＭＭ
Dat e of fire Time of fire
ｾＭＭＭＧｔＢｔＢＢ ＭＭ ＭＭＭｯｲＭ Ｍ
Or i gi n of fire Cause
(kitchen,bedroom,etc:r-Fire confined to: Room of origin_Floor of origin__Building of ori gin_ _ Fi r e ext ended to:
(adjoini ng bui l ding s , etc.)
St r uct ural
Ext er i or fi nish fr ame
(brick veneer , wood siding , etc .) Ｈ ｷＭｯＭｯｾ､ｾ ＬＭ ｳｾｴＭ･Ｍ ･ｾ ｬｾ Ｌｾ ｢Ｍ ｲ Ｍ ｬｲﾷ ｣ｾ ｫｾ ｾ ･Ｍ ｴＧＭＭＭ ｣ Ｍ ＮＩ
Length of ｢ｵｩ ｬ ､ ｩｮｧ ｾｗｩ､ ｴｨ No . of storeys Gross f l oor ar ea _
Gr o s s floor are a of r oom of origin
---room of origin
Interior finish (lath &: plaster , wood fibreboard , etc , )
Wa l l s Ceilings
on
:-Par t i t i on s
other
Any mat er ial s which contrib uted to t he rapid spread of fire or hi nd er ed escape of occupants
Means of egress from fire are a (doorway ,hallway, corridor, lobby , st a i r , ramp , et.c , )
No . of exits: (a) fro m bui ld ing (b) fro m fire ar ea
---(front, rear , side of b uilding) Location of fire exits
ＭＢＢＧＷＢＢｬｊＮＮＮＮＮＮＭＭＭＭｲＭＭＭＭＭｾＭＭｸＭＮＭＭＭＮＮＭＺＭＺＺＭＮＭＭＭＭＮＭＭＭＭ ＭＭＭ
(exterior, interior, ｳｴ｡ｩｲｷ｡ｾＬ chute , etc.) Class of fire exits
ＭｾｾＭＭ［Ｍ Ｍ ＭＭＭ［ｾ［ＭＭＭＮＭＭＭｾＭＭｲＭ ＭＭｾｾＭＭＭＺＭＭｯｲＭＭ ＭＺＭＭ
APPENDIX ttAn
FIRE FATALITY REPORT DIVISION OF BUILDING RESEARCH
·Na.tioJ1.al Hesearch Council r.d.vision of Building ｾＺ･ｅ･｡ｲ｣ｨ
Otrtaira 2, Canada Pire Eesearch Section
FIRE FATALITY REPORT
(Please return to the above address when complete.)
-Covmer or tenant) ｾＭＭ Address (number,ｳｴｲ･･ｴＧｾ city-; etc.)
( cTothing factory,- hotel, dwe LLfng , etc.1
rate of fire Time of fire
Tday ,
month,year)---Najor occupancy ____a.m. pom.
---_._._-Cause Origin of fire ｔｫｬｴ｣ｨ･ｮＬ｢･､ｲｾｾ･ｴｃＺｬＭFire confined to: Room of origin_Floor of origin_Building of origin _
Fj.re extended to:
(adjoining buildings, etc.)
Structu.ral
Exterior finish frame
(brick veneer ,wood siding, etc. ) ＨｷＭｯＭｯＢＧ､ＭＬＭｳＭＺＭｴＭ･Ｍ･ＢＢＢＺＺｬｾｾＭＺＭ｢Ｍｲ［Ｍｦ｣ｫＮ｜ etcｾＧＩ
area
Length of bUilding_\"1idth Nosof storeys Gross floor
Gross floor area of room of origin . _
Interior finish (lath B,; plaster, wood fibreboard, etc .. ) on:-room of
origin
\-JaIls Ceilings :Partitions
: ;
-
---_._--other
Any materials which contributed to the rapid spread of fire or hindered escape of occupants
}ieans of egress from fire area (doorway, hallway, corridor, lobby, stair, ramp, etc , )
No. of exits: (a) from building (b) from fire area _
Location of fire exits
(front, rear, side of bUilding) Class of fire exits
(exterior-,-'lnterior, st ad.r-way , chute, etc.)
2 Names of fatalities in or on:
Ground floor
Basement _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Age _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Age
First floor
---
AgeSecond floor other
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Age ___________________________ Age
No. of occupants normally in building
'
-No. rescued
---
No. injured No. burned(other than burns)
-Fire Department:- Paid
----
Volunteer
-Estimated fire loss
Were photographs taken? Yes By whom?
Other
Ho
If photographs, news clippings available, please include with report:
Any further information or ｲ･｣ｯｭｾ･ｮ､｡ｴｩｯｮｳ
Please enclose pertinent sketches of affected areas, or location of bodies.
Date of' report
fTRC/DEE
