Fire investigations by the Fire Section 1957-1958

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Front view of dwelling o r i g i n a l l y involved i n f i r e and those on e i t h e r s i d e which were i g n i t e d by r a d i a t i o n .

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NATIONAL RESEARCH COUmCIL OF CANADA DIVISIOR OF BUILDING RESEARCH

FIRE INVESTIGATIONS BY TEIE FIRE SECTION 1957

-

1958

by

COW. Shorter and COGo Burnett

Report No. 181 o f t h e

D i v i s i o n o f Building Research

OTTAWA

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This i s a f u r t h e r progress reporl; of t h e s t u d i e s being made by t h e F i r e Section of t h e Division of Building

Research of those f i r e s i n buildings which occlrrred during t h e years of 1957 and 1958, which t h e s t a f f were a b l e t o v i s i t . This work i s a c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e improvement of t h e t r a g i c f i r e l o s s , both of l i v e s and property, which occurs every year i n Canada

This r e p o r t

i s

t h e f o u r t h such r e p o r t t o be issued. When enough information has been assembled i n t h e s e annual reviews a comprehensive general paper on t h e r e s u l t s

obtained w i l l be prepared and published.

A s i n previous years t h e s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s have been confined t o t h e Ottawa a r e a with t h e exception of t h e bad f i r e i n S o r e l ,

P.Q.

Other f i e l d s t u d i e s have been continned i n t o t h e st.udy of f i r e f a t a l i t i e s which occurred i n t h e

Province of Ontario and t h e s e a r e recorded i n another s e r i e s of r e p o r t s .

The continued co-operation of t h e Ottawa F i r e Department and t h e o f f i c e of t h e Ontario P i r e TSiarshal i s e r e a t l y appreciated and valued.

u

Ottawa

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FIRE INVESTIGATIONS BY TITE FIRE SECTION 1957-1958

G. W. Shorter and C. G. Burnett

During 1957 and 1958 t h e F i r e Section continued i t s study of non-fatal f i r e s i n t h e Province of Ontario, a s well a s i t s study of f i r e s i n which f a t a l i t i e s occur. The s t u d i e s undertaken a t f a t a l f i r e s during 1957 and 1958 have been

recorded i n DBR Report No. 176.

Although t h e F i r e Section g e n e r a l l y r e s t r i c t s i t s i n v e s t i g a t i o n work i n n o n - f a t a l f i r e s t o t h e Ottawa a r e a ,

v i s i t s were paid t o t h e scenes of f i r e s of s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e which had occurred i n o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s . One such f i r e which

caused considerable l o s s was a t S o r e l , Quebec and t h e f i n d i n g s a r e recorded i n t h i s r e p o r t .

Since beginning t h i s study t h e F i r e Section has

i n v e s t i g a t e d 117 non-fatal f i r e s and

45

f a t a l f i r e s which were responsible f o r t h e l o s s of 1 2 4 l i v e s . The scene of s e v e r a l f i r e s of a minor nature were c a s u a l l y inspected.

A s i n previous reports,summaries of t h e twenty f i r e s i n v e s t i g a t e d during 1957 and 1958 a r e given t o g e t h e r with photographs t o supplement t h e w r i t t e n d e s c r i p t i o n s . I n each summary t h e f i r e i s described under t h e following

headings : ( a ) General; ( b ) Weather Data; ( c ) Construction;

( d ) Spread of F i r e ; and ( e ) Remarks. Except where s p e c i f i c a l l y r e f e r r e d t o , t h e weather data a r e included t o i n d i c a t e t o those who a r e not f a m i l i a r with t h e weather i n Canada t h e climate

conditions a t various times of t h e year.

Data f o r a l l t h e f i r e s i n v e s t i g a t e d s i n c e 1950 have however been used f o r t h e b r i e f a n a l y s i s appearing i n Appendix A. Graphs (Figs. A - 1 , A - 2 and A-3) show t h e frequency d i s t r i b u t i o n of f i r e s by ( a ) month, ( b ) day of week, and ( c ) hour of day, r e s p e c t i v e l y . I n a d d i t i o n o t h e r miscellaneous d a t a on t h e f i r e s by occupancy a r e presented i n Table A-1. It should be emphasized t h a t t h i s a n a l y s i s i l l u s t r a t e s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of only those f i r e s which have been i n v e s t i g a t e d by t h e F i r e Section and does not apply t o f i r e s i n general.

The b u i l d i n g r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e caption f o r each summary i s always t h a t i n which t h e f i r e o r i g i n a t e d . The

l o s s e s reported r e f e r not only t o t h i s b u i l d i n g but a l s o t o any o t h e r s involved i n t h e f i r e . The f i g u r e s given a r e only approxi- mate values and may 7 s r y considerably from t h e a c t u a l l o s s e s

sustained. They a r e include;, hnwever, t o give some idea of t h e s i z e of t h e f i r e .

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DBR FIRE STUDY NO. 1/57

Date of F i r e : 2 January 195'7 Location: Ottawa, Ont. Time of F i r e : 6.50 a.m. Day of Week: Wednesday

No. of S t o r i e s :

3

Estimated Loss: $2,000,000

COMMERCIAL PFEMISES, HOTELS AND RESIDENCES

GENERAL.- On 2 January one of t h e worst f i r e s i n many y e a r s occurred i n t h e Byward Market s e c t i o n of t h e C i t y of Ottawa. Property and equipment l o s s e s were e s t i m a t e d t o exceed two m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . Many of t h e b u i l d i n g s i n t h e a r e a bounded on t h e s o u t h by Clarence S t r e e t , on t h e e a s t . by Parent S t r e e t , on t h e n o r t h by Murray S t r e e t and on t h e west by Sussex S t r e e t , which contained h o t e l s , apartments, s t o r a g e and b u s i n e s s

premises, were completely destroyed o r s e r i o u s l y damaged.

An alarm was telephoned i n a t 6.50 a.m. f o r a f i r e i n a warehouse on Clarence S t r e e t . On a r r i v a l t h e f i r e department found t h a t t h e f i r e involved t h e e n t i r e b u i l d i n g and r e q u i r e d

f i r e - f i g h t i n g o p e r a t i o n s t o be conducted from t h e s t r e e t ( F i g . 1). WUTHER DATA.- I n January low t e m p e r a t u r e s , snow and. s t r o n g

winds g e n e r a l l y p r e v a i l i n t h e Ottawa a r e a . Temperatures had dropped t o a s low a s 20' below z e r o on t h e day previous t o t h e f i r e and t h e c o l d temperature continued d u r i n g t h e n i g h t and throughout t h e day of t h e f i r e .

The weather o b s e r v a t i o n s f o r t h e Ottawa a r e a a r e given i n Table I.

TABLE I

Weather Data f o r Ottawa on 2 January 1957

-

Hour of Day Temperature R e l a t i v e Humidity Wind

(a.m., EST) (OF)

($1

D i r e c t i o n Speed (mph)

1.00

-

30 59

W

7 3.00 -12 68

W

₆ 5.00 -11 68

W

11 7.00 -11 68

W

9 10.00 -8 6 1

NW

1 0 12.00 - 3

5 '7

W 1 2

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CONSTRUCTION.- The b u i l d i n g i n which t h e f i r e o r i g i n a t e d was t h r e e s t o r i e s i n h e i g h t and of masonry c o n s t m c t i o n . The f l a t roof was covered with t a r and g r a v e l . The i n t e r i o r f i n i s h was mainly wood c o n s t r u c t i o n . binny of t h e a d j a c e n t b u i l d i n g s

destroyed by t h e f i r e were c o n s t r u c t e d of masonry and wood; a number of wood sheds were l o c a t e d i n t h e yards a-t t h e r e a r of t h e b u i l d i n g s i n v o l v e d , a l l of which added f u e l t o t h e spreading f i r e ( P i g . 2 ) .

SPREAD

OF FIRE.- The f i r e spread r a p i d l y i n t h e b u i l d i n g of o r i g i n , on Clarence S t r e e t , and g r a d u a l l y burned i t s way n o r t h through t h e a t t a c h e d r e a r b u i l d i n g . I t t h e n extended t o a t h r e e -

s t o r y commercial b u i l d i n g on t h e south s i d e of Murray S t r e e t where

it

continued i t s p a t h i n a w e s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n t o d e s t r o y a t h r e e - s t o r y h o t e l and r e s i d e n c e b e f o r e being checked a t a laneway ( P i g s .

3

and

4 ) .

The i n t e n s i t y of t h e f i r e on Clarence S t r e e t , which had by now a l s o involved a nwnber of two- and t h r e e - s t o r y b u i l d i n g s a d j a c e n t t o t h e b u i l d i n 8 of o r i g i n , was

spreading f u r t h e r i n a n e a s t e r n and western d i r e c t i o n , t h r e a t e n i n g t o d e s t r o y a l a r g e t h r e e - s t o r y h o t e l on Parent S t r e e t and a

l a r g e f o u r - s t o r y masonry apartment b u i l d i n g n e a r Sussex Drive. The f i r e w a s checked i n t h e h o t e l b u i l d i n g a t Parent S t r e e t

a f t e r d e s t r o y i n g t h e t o p f l o o r and a s e c t i o n of t h e roof ( F i g .

5 ) .

It continued t o advance west on Clarence S t r e e t t o d e s t r o y a

number of two- and t h r e e - s t o r y b u i l d i n g s i n i t s p a t h ( F i g s . 6 and

7 ) .

A laneway t e m p o r a r i l y provided a f i r e break u n t i l r a d i a t e d h e a t i g n i t e d combustible m a t e r i a l i n t h e masonry

apartment b u i l d i n g through window and door openings i n t h e e a s t s i d e w a l l ( P i g . 8 ) . A vacant l o t on t h e west s i d e of t h e

burning b u i l d i n g was a f a c t o r which helped t o c o n t r o l t h e advance of t h e f i r e .

The f i r e was considered under c o n t r o l a t noon on 2 January, a l t h o u g h overhauling o p e r a t i o n s continued u n t i l

4

January.

REMARKS.-

The hazard o f f i r e spread was most pronounced i n t h i s f a i r l y compactly b u i l t block which was made up of b u i l d i n g s o f moderate h e i g h t but t h e r e were many unprotected openings

between t h e a d j o i n i n g b u i l d i n g s . I n a c c e s s i b i l i t y from t h e r e a r and t h e many exposed unprotected window openings were f a c t o r s which c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e r a p i d spread of t h i s f i r e . Standard f i r e w a l l s , p a r a p e t s , and proper p r o t e c t i o n of exposed openings, would have a i d e d i n t h e c o n t r o l , and prevented t h e spread of t h i s f i r e . The l a r g e l o s s i n p r o p e r t y and equipment emphasizes t h e need f o r c o n t r o l of s t r u c t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s by adequate

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Date of F i r e : 24 January

1957

Location: Ottawa, Ont.

Time

o f

F i r e :

11.58

p.m. No. of S t o r i e s : 2

Day of Week: Thursday

Estimated Loss: $200,000 ELECTRICAL SUPPLY STORAGE

GENERAL.- A f i r e was discovered s h o r t l y b e f o r e 12 midnight i n t h i s b u i l d i n g which houses e l e c t r i c a l equipment; firemen brought it under c o n t r o l some t h r e e hours l a t e r . Heat from t h e f i r e s e t o f f t h e automatic alarm system which brought p o l i c e and firemen t o t h e scene. Smoke was b i l l o w i n g from t h e windows. .The

b u i l d i n g , formerly used a s a showroom and garage, had a number of wood p a r t i t i o n s and combustible drop c e i l i n g s c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e i n t e r i o r t o provide f o r t h e s t o r a g e of s t o c k ( F i g .

9 ) .

WEATHER DATA.

-

During t h e f i r e t h e a i r temperature was 12OF, t h e r e l a t i v e humidity 72 p e r c e n t , and t h e wind was blowing a t

5

mph from t h e south.

CONSTRUCTION.- The s o l i d b r i c k b u i l d i n g ( F i g . 1 0 ) was approximately 120 f t i n l e n g t h , 60 f t i n width and two s t o r i e s i n h e i g h t w i t h a basement. The roof was f l a t , covered w i t h t a r and g r a v e l . Owing t o change of occupancy, a l t e r a t i o n s had been made t o t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s and a number of wood p a r t i t i o n s

f i n i s h e d with combustible board were c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e i n t e r i o r ( F i g . 11).

SPREAD

OF FIRE.- m e f i r e o r i g i n a t e d i n a stockroom on t h e f i r s t f l o o r where m a t e r i a l s were s t o r e d i n paper boxes. It s p r e a d r a p i d l y

in

t h e combustible wood p a r t i t i o n s and f a l s e c e i l i n g s which extend t h e l e n g t h of t h e b u i l d i n g ( P i g . 1 2 ) . A concrete f l o o r between t h e f i r s t and second f l o o r prevented f u r t h e r spread of t h e f i r e b u t c o n s i d e r a b l e smoke and water damage occurred on t h e second f l o o r . Cause of t h e f i r e was n o t d e f i n i t e l y determined b u t it was probably due t o c a r e l e s s

smoking.

REMARKS.- One of t h e a l t e r a t i o n s made t o t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s w l t h t h e change of occupancy was t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n of g l a s s block windows which permitted t h e h e a t and smoke t o b u i l d up w i t h i n t h e b u i l d i n g , t h u s preventing e a r l y discovery and making f i r e f i g h t i n g o p e r a t i o n s more d i f f i c u l t . This f i r e i l l u s t r a t e s t h e hazard c r e a t e d i n b u i l d i n g s of s o l i d masonry c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h improper m a t e r i a l s used f o r i n t e r i o r a l t e r a t i o n s and s h e l v i n g .

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DBR FIRE STUDS NO. 3/57

Date of F i r e : 29 January 1957 Location: S o r e l , Que. Time of F i r e :

No. of S t o r i e s : 3

Day of Week: Tuesday

Estimated L o s s : $~1,000,000

COn'IMERCIAL PRENI SES

,

HOTEL AND APARTMENTS

GENE.RI1L.- A very d i s a s t r o u s f i r e occurred i n t h e commercial

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of t h e C i t y of S o r e l , Quebec, which t o t a l l y destroyed a h o t e l and a number of b u s i n e s s premises w i t h apartments above them. Adjacent b u i l d i n g s s u f f e r e d smoke and water damag? and t h e e s t i m a t e d p r o p e r t y ' l o s s was c l o s e t o one m i l l i o n d o l l a r s .

A s t h e f i r e p r o g r e s s e d , a s s i s t a n c e was r e q u e s t e d and r e c e i v e d from t h e a d j a c e n t m u n i c i p a l i t y and a town twenty-five m i l e s d i s t a n t , t o h e l p c o n t r o l and e x t i n g u i s h t h e f i r e .

WEATHER DATA.- During t h e n i g h t of 28 January snow s t a r t e d

t o f a l l and continued u n t i l noon t h e f o l l o w i n g day. I n a d d i t i o n , s t r o n g winds varying from 15 t o 24 mph with g u s t s o c c a s i o n a l l y up t o 30 mph, continued i n t h e a r e a during t h e period of t h e f i r e . The weather c o n d i t i o n s probably helped t o spread t h e f i r e and hampered t h e work of t h e f i r e f i g h t e r s . The weather o b s e r v a t i o n s f o r S o r e l a r e a a r e given i n Table 11.

TABLE I1

Weather Data f o r S o r e l on 29 January 1957 Wind

Hour of Day 'Ueather Temperature m r e c t i o n S r m

(a.m.,EST)

--

( OF) ( mph) :--- (mph) 1.30 Snow 16 NNE 16

-

2.30 Snow 1 3 NNE

1 5

-

4.30 Snow 10 NNE

-

6.30 Snow 6 NNE 20 8.30 Snovi 6 NNE 1 7 28 24 30 10.30 Snow 7 NNE

1 5

24 12.30 Snovi 7 NNE 15 26

CONSTRUCTION.

-

The b u i l d i n g s destroyed were e s s e n t i a l l g of

b r i c k - v e n e e r frame c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h r e e s t o r i e s high. The f l o o r s were wood and t h e f l a t r o o f s had a t a r and g r a v e l f i n i s h .

SPREAD OF FIRE.- Re-ports r e c e i v e d i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e f i r e

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made r a p i d p r o g r e s s t h r o u g h u n p r o t e c t e d v e r t i c a l i n t e r i o r

openings t o t h e roof of t h e build.ing. Prom t h e r o o f it s p r e a d i n a h o r i z o n t a l p a t h i n t h e unused open a t t i c space under t h e r o o f s of t h e a d j o i n i n g b u i l d i n g s f o r a d i s t a n c e of 200 f t on Avenue de l a Reine ( P i g .

1 4 )

and 150

f t

on Augusta S t r e e t

( F i g .

1 5 ) .

A p a r a p e t e d f i r e w a l l l o c a t e d a t t h e end of t h e b u r n t o u t b u i l d i n g s on Augusta S t r e e t checked t h e f i r e . During t h e e a r l y s t a g e s of t h e f i r e f l y i n g brands t h r e a t e n e d t h e

b u s i n e s s a r e a . The f i r e was brought under c o n t r o l a t 9.00 a.m.

,

a l t h o u g h w a t e r s t r e a m s remained throughout t h e day. Cause of t h e f i r e was n o t determined due t o e x t e n s i v e damage i n t h e h o t e l b u i l d i n g ( P i g . 1 6 ) .

REMARKS.- B u i l d i n g s b u i l t b e f o r e t h e days of b u i l d i n g code r e q u i r e m e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e l o c a t e d i n congested a r e a s , have always been a c o n f l a g r a t i o n hazard. It was e v i d e n t t h a t f i r e p r e v e n t i o n and good b u i l d i n g code p r a c t i c e s have n o t been e n f o r c e d i n t h i s m u n i c i p a l i t y . The t o t a l manpower of t h e

combined p o l i c e and f i r e departments responding t o a f i r s t a l a r m a r e t a x e d i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o perform r e s c u e and f i r e f i g h t i n g o p e r a t i o n s

u n t i l

f u r t h e r a s s i s t a n c e a r r i v e s .

The time a t which t h e f i r e o c c u r r e d and t h e d e l a y i n i t s d i s c o v e r y were f a c t o r s which p e r m i t t e d t h e f i r e t o make r a p i d p r o g r e s s i n t h e l a r g e u n p r o t e c t e d open passageways of t h e h o t e l and a d j o i n i n g b u i l d i n g s .

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DBR FIRE STUDY NO. 4/57 Date of F i r e : 2 A p r i l Time o f F i r e : 12.24 a.m. No. of S t o r i e s :

4

Day o f Week: Wesday Estimated L o s s : $50,000 HOTEL AND BUSINESS PRWIISES

GENERAL.- This f i r e occurred i n one of Ottawa's o l d e s t h o t e l s , l o c a t e d i n t h e c e n t r e of t h e commercial a r e a . I t had been t h e scene o f a number o f f i r e s i n t h e p a s t . A l a r g e s e c t i o n of t h e h o t e l had been unoccupied f o r some time due t o damage caused by previous f i r e s . The h o t e l and t h e s t o r e s , f r o n t i n g on t h r e e

s t r e e t s , were s l a t e d f o r demolition. The f i r e was discovered by a member of t h e n i g h t s t a f f who went t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e smell of smoke.

WEATHER DATA.- During t h e p r o g r e s s of t h e f i r e t h e a i r tempera- W F w i t h a r e l a t i v e humidity of 100 p e r c e n t and a

s o u t h e a s t wind blowing a t

4

mph.

CONSTRUCTION.- The s o l i d b r i c k b u i l d i n g ( F i g . 1 7 ) was approxi- mate1.v 125

f t

i n 1enFi;th. 200

f t

i n width, and f o u r s t o r i e s i n h e i g h t . The roof w a s f l a t w i t h a t a r and g r a v e l f i n i s h over wood j o i s t s . The i n t e r i o r f i n i s h of t h e rooms c o n s i s t e d of d i f f e r e n t m a t e r i a l s .

SPREAD OF FIFE.- The f i r e was discovered on t h e second f l o o r of t h e unoccupied s e c t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g , which contained 40 rooms

( F i g . 18). The w a l l s and c e i l i n g s i n t h e rooms, which were used. t o s t o r e a c o n s i d e r a b l e amount o f combustible m a t e r i a l , provided ready f u e l f o r t h e f i r e t o spread. The t o p f l o o r s

and roof of t h e b u i l d i n g were soon involved i n t h e f i r e ( F i g .

1 9 ) .

F o r t u n a t e l y a b r i c k p a r t i t i o n w a l l , which s e p a r a t e d t h i s s e c t i o n of t h e h o t e l , provided a means of stopping t h e f i r e from

spreading t o t h e main s e c t i o n of t h e h o t e l . Cause of t h e f i r e could n o t be determined d e f i n i t e l y due t o e x t e n s i v e burning b u t incendiarism w a s suspected.

REMARKS.- Previous f i r e s i n t h e unoccupied p a r t of t h e h o t e l l e f t t h e i n t e r i o r f i n i s h i n a d i l a p i d a t e d c o n d i t i o n b u t renova- t i o n s had n o t been c a r r i e d out due t o t h e proposed d e m o l i t i o n , which has s i n c e been completed.

The d e l a y i n discovery permitted t h e f i r e t o spread i n t h e unoccupied s e c t i o n , and endangered t h e l i v e s of t h o s e i n t h e occupied s e c t i o n . ( F i g u r e 20 shows a r e a r view of t h e occupied s e c t i o n o f t h e h o t e l . )

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Date of F i r e :

5

A p r i l 1957 Time of F i r e : 12.30 a.m. No. of S t o r i e s :

3

HOTEL

Day of Week: Friday

Estimated Loss: $10,000

GENERAL.- This f i r e occurred a t approximately 12.30 a.m. i n one of t h e c i t y v s small h o t e l s l o c a t e d i n t h e market a r e a ( F i g . 2 1 ) . F i r e was discovered when a n employee n o t i c e d smoke coming from t h e r e a r of t h e b u i l d i n g . He immediately sounded t h e h o t e l alarm system. The f i r e o r i g i n a t e d i n t h e k i t c h e n (Fig. 2 2 ) from a n unknown cause and spread up a r e a r s t a i r c a s e t o i g n i t e t h e second and t h i r d f l o o r s and t h e roof of t h e b u i l d i n g .

Occupants of t h e rooms on t h e t o p f l o o r s escaped down t h e f r o n t s t a i r c a s e .

WEATHER DATA.

-

The a i r temperature d u r i n g t h e f i r e was 33OF, with a r e l a t i v e humidity o f

56

p e r c e n t , and a s o u t h e a s t wind blowing a t 16 mph.

CONSTRUCTION.- The t h r e e - s t o r y b u i l d i n g was of wood-frame c o n s t r u c t i o n , f i n i s h e d on t h e e x t e r i o r w i t h stucco and t i l e . The roof was f l a t , covered w i t h t a r and g r a v e l . Mixed m a t e r i a l s of l a t h and p l a s t e r and combustible board were used a s i n t e r i o r f i n i s h on t h e w a l l s , c e i l i n g s and p a r t i t i o n s .

SPREAD OF FIF?E.- The r e a r s t a i r c a s e which extended from t h e

k i t c h e n where t h e f i r e s t a r t e d , p e r m i t t e d t h e hot gases and f i r e t o r i s e up t h e hallways t o t h e upper f l o o r s where t h e combustible i n t e r i o r f i n i s h ( F i g . 23) on t h e w a l l s and c e i l i n g s was i g n i t e d .

R 3 U R k 5 . - The k i t c h e n and d i n i n g room, l o c a t e d a t t h e r e a r of

t h e b u i l d i n g (Fig. 2 4 ) , had been closed e a r l y i n t h e evening. This

a r e a provided a n o t h e r a c c e s s f o r t h e f i r e through t h e k i t c h e n t o t h e upper f l o o r s which,-had t h e f i r e t a k e n t h i s r o u t e a s w e l l , could have created. an a d d i t i o n a l hazard.

I n t h i s c l a s s of b u i l d i n g t h e r e i s always a p o t e n t i a l l i f e hazard. Additional o u t s i d e f i r e escapes a r e o f some v a l u e , s i n c e t h e y o f f e r a method of escape t o able-bodied i n d i v i d u a l s . However, e x i t f a c i l i t i e s , such a s open s t a i r c a s e s , o f t e n become v e r t i c a l f l u e s , c a r r y i n g heated g a s e s , smoke and flame t o upper f l o o r s and a r e more of a hazard t h a n a n escape r o u t e .

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Date of F i r e : 16 A p r i l 1957 Location: Ottawa, Ont.

Time of F i r e : 3.15 a.m. Day of Week: Tuesday

No. o f S t o r i e s : 2 Estimated L o s s :

-

:$15,000 SIX-DOOR TENEMENT ROW

GENERAL.-

S h o r t l y a f t e r 3.00 a.m. one o f t h e occupants of t h i s six-door row awoke t o f i n d smoke i n t h e b u i l d i n g and a f i r e burning a t t h e r e a r of t h e north-end dwelling ( F i g . 2 5 ) . The f i r e had gained c o n s i d e r a b l e headway e n t e r i n g t h e r e a r wall and k i t c h e n t o extend t o t h e unused a t t i c space under t h e roof where it spread t h e l e n g t h of t h e build.ing, A heavy concentra- t i o n of smoke, t h a t b u i l t up between t h e c e i l i n g of t h e second f l o o r and r o o f , caused an explosion which blew out a s e c t i o n of t h e s o u t h wall ( F i g . 2 6 ) - Considerable damage was caused t o t h e roof and i n t e r i o r of t h e dwellings.

WEATHER DATA.- The a i r temperature was 32OF, and t h e humidity 8 1 p e r c e n t , with a 5 mph west wind.

CONSTRUCTION.- D i f f e r e n t m a t e r i a l s were used a s e x t e r i o r f i n i s h on t h e two-story wood-frame tenement. The f r o n t was b r i c k , t h e r e a r wall was t i n s h e a t h i n g and t h e ends were b r i c k s i d i n g . One-story woodsheds were a t t a c h e d a t t h e r e a r ( F i g . 2 7 ) . The f l a t roof was f i n i s h e d with t a r and g r a v e l . The i n t e r i o r

s t r u c t u r e was wood with l a t h and p l a s t e r w a l l s and c e i l i n g s . SPREAD OF FIRE,- The f i r e spread from t h e shed t o t h e r e a r

w a l l ( Y i g . 2 8 ) where l a c k of f i r e s t o p s between t h e wood j o i s t s permitted t h e f i r e t o t r a v e l i n a v e r - t i c a l p a t h t o t h e open a t t i c space under t h e r o o f . Live embers dropping down t h e s e p a r a t i n g w a l l s caused t h e f i r e t o spread on t h e second f l o o r i n a d j a c e n t dwellings.

.REMARKS.- C a r e l e s s d i s p o s a l of hazardous waste m a t e r i a l was t h e

_.

-primary cause of t h i s f i r e . The combustible c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g influenced t h e s p r e a d , and t h e d e l a y i n discovery allowed t h e f i r e t o g a i n c o n s i d e r a b l e headway b e f o r e t h e

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DBR FIRE STXDY NO. 7/57

Date of F i r e : 1 May 1957 Time of P i r e :

_-

9.30 p.m.

Location:

--

C y r v i l l e

,

Ont

.

Day of Xeek: Wed.nesday

No. of S t o r i e s : 1 and 2 Estimated L o s s : i,b150,000

COIDfiERCIAL STORES AND RESIDENCES

-

GENERAL.- A s p e c t a c u l a r f i r e faimed by s t r o n g winds spread out of c o n t r o l f o r t h r e e hours and t h r e a t e n e d t h e e n t i r e v i l l a g e of C y r v i l l e on t h e o u t s k i r t s of Ottawa. Before being brought under con-trol, t h e f i r e destroyed two b u s i n e s s establisliments and a number of r e s i d e n c e s i n t h e a r e a . The b l a z e s t a r t e d

s h o r t l y b e f o r e 9.30 p.m. a t t h e r e a r of a f u r n i t u r e s t o r e and spread r a p i d l y t o t h e a d j a c e n t b u i l d i n g s . High winds c a r r i e d l i v e embers t o t h e r o o f s of many of t h e wood-constructed

b u i l d i n g s i n t h e a r e a causing i n c i p i e n t f i r e s . Assistance i n f i g h t i n g t h e f i r e was requested and r e c e i v e d from nearby

municipal f i r e departments.

WEATHER DATA.- During t h e progress of t h e f i r e t h e a i r tempera- E e was W P w i t h a r e l a t i v e humidity of 47 p e r cent and a northwest wind blowing a t

1 5

mph.

CONSTRUCTION.- The one-story b u i l d i n g i n which t h e f i r e o r i g i - nated ( P i g . 29) was masonry, c o n s t r u c t e d with a wood j o i s t roof f i n i s h e d with t a r and g r a v e l . The o t h e r b u i l d i n g s which were damaged o r destroyed i n t h e a r e a , were b r i c k veneer and wood frame with p i t c h e d r o o f s sheathed w i t h wood s h i n g l e s .

SPREAD OP FIRE.- The f i r e completely destroyed t h e masonry b u i l d i n g i n wEich it o r i g i n a t e d , a s well a s i t s c o n t e n t s and r a p i d l y spread e a s t t o a d j a c e n t wood-frame r e s i d e n c e s ( F i g . 3 0 ) . Strong winds blowing from t h e n o r t h c a r r i e d t h e f i r e i n a

southern d i r e c t i o n t o i g n i t e wood-frame sheds and f e n c e s a t t h e r e a r of t h e burning a r e a ( F i g . 3 1 ) . It t h e n spread t o and t o t a l l y destroyed a wood-frame and brick-veneer b u i l d i n g which housed a g e n e r a l s t o r e and p o s t o f f i c e ( F i g . 3 2 ) .

REDLARKS.- Prom t h e study of c o n f l a g r a t i o n s which have occurred i n t h i s country, it i s apparent t h a t c o n d i t i o n s necessary f o r l a r g e - s c a l e f i r e s e x i s t i n p r a c t i c a l l y a l l communities whether l a r g e o r small. Conflagrations a r e u s u a l l y t h e r e s u l t o f

unfavourable s t r u c t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s and, i n many c a s e s , a r e combined with f i r e - f i g h t i n g f a c i l i t i e s which a r e inadequate t o cope with s e v e r e f i r e c o n d i t i o n s . This f i r e , which spread r a p i d l y due t o h e a t r a d i a t i o n and f l y i n g embers, was brought under c o n t r o l with t h e a s s i s t a n c e of nearby f i r e departments.

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Date of F i r e : 29 June 1957 Location: G l o u c e s t e r Twp.

Time of F i r e :

4.15

p.m. Day of Week: Saturday

No. of S t o r i e s : 1 Estimated Loss: $100,000

AWPOlVJOBILE STOFUGE AND REPAIR BUILDING

GENERAL.- T h i s f i r e o c c u r r e d s h o r t l y a f t e r 4.00 p.m. i n a b u i l d i n g s i t u a t e d i n t h e Township of G l o u c e s t e r , a d j a c e n t t o Ottawa. The b u i l d i n g was used f o r t h e s t o r a g e of new c a r s and a s a p a i n t shop ( F i g . 3 3 ) . A t t h e t i m e of t h e f i r e o n l y two employees were on d u t y . The f i r e o r i g i n a t e d a t t h e s o u t h end of t h e b u i l d i n g where a n employee was s p r a y p a i n t i n g a v e h i c l e . The f i r e caused concern f o r t h e s a f e t y of a l a r g e number of v e h i c l e s s t o r e d i n t h e b u i l d i n g . The l o c a t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g p r e s e n t e d a problem i n t h e c o n t r o l of t h e f i r e because of

i n a d e q u a t e f i r e - f i g h t i n g f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e a r e a .

WEATHER DATA.- A s t r o n g southwest wind a t 20 mph c o n t i n u e d t o b l o w t h r o u g h o u t t h e p r o g r e s s of t h e f i r e w i t h t h e a i r t e m p e r a t u r e a t 60°F and a r e l a t i v e humidity of 98 p e r c e n t .

CONSTRUCTION.- The frame b u i l d i n g was approximately 200 f t i n l e n g t h , '(3 f t i n width w i t h a p i t c h e d r o o f . . The e x t e r i o r w a l l s and t h e roof were c l a d w i t h i r o n sheetin.g. The i n t e r i o r of t h e b u i l d i n g was f i n i s h e d w i t h combustible board on wood f u r r i n ~

( F i g .

34)

and t h e roof was i n s u l a t e d w i t h g l a s s f i b r e ( F i g .

3 5 ) .

SPRFAD OF FIRE.- The s o u t h end of t h e b u i l d i n g , where t h e f i r e

7

-o r i g i n i Z T n t a i n e d f a c i l i t i e s f -o r p a i n t i n g and t h e s t -o r a g e of m a t e r i a l s ( F i g . 3 6 ) . The f i r e spread v e r y q u i c k l y i n t h i s a r e a , i n v o l v i n g a number of c a r s and c r e a t i n g a heavy c o n c e n t r a - t i o n of h e a t and smoke under t h e r o o f . The l a r g e d o o r s made

it

p o s s i b l e f o r many of t h e c a r s t o be removed. The v e n t i l a t o r s i n t h e roof h e l p e d t o r e l e a s e t h e h o t g a s e s and t h e r e b y reduce what could have been a much g r e a t e r l o s s . Cause of t h e f i r e was a t t r i b u t e d t o a s p a r k from a n e l e c t r i c motor o p e r a t i n g a n a i r compressor i g n i t i n g flammable l i q u i d vapours i n t h e v i c i n i t y

of t h e s p r a y booth.

Rl3IvIARKS.- This i n c i d e n t i l l u s t r a t e s t h e hazard which e x i s t s when p a i n t s p r a y i n g , u s i n g a flammable s o l v e n t , i s c a r r i e d o u t i n a garage r a t h e r t h a n i n a p r o p e r l y designed p a i n t s p r a y i n g booth where good v e n t i l a t i o n i s provided t o c a r r j away t h e vapours

.

C a r e l e s s d i s p o s a l of hazardous waste m a t e r i a l and

flammable fumes c i r c u l a t i n g i n t h e i n t e r i o r of t h e b u i l d i n g were t h e major f a c t o r s which caused t h i s f i r e t o s p r e a d .

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DHR FIR3 STlJDY NO. 9/57 Date of F i r e :

-

3 December

1.957

Time of F i r e :

_--

2.50 p.m.

_--

Day of Week: Tue ~ d a y

No. o f S t o r i e s : 2 Estimated Loss: $75,000

FURNITURE 1NAREIIOUSE

GENERAL. A f i r e was d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e basement of t h i s b u i l d i n g s h o r t l y b e f o r e 3.00 p.m. by members of t h e o f f i c e s t a f f who

worked on t h e second f l o o r . The b u i l d i n g p r e v i o u s l y had been used a s a r e c r e a t i o n c e n t r e and w i t h t h e change of occupancy a number of s l a t t e d wood p a r t i t i o n room were c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e basement f o r t h e s t o r a g e of f u r n i t u r e . The f i r e rnade c o n s i d e r - a b l e p r o g r e s s i n t h e basement b e f o r e it was d e t e c t e d .

A

l a r g e volume of smoke f i l l e d t h e b u i l d i n g and t h e r e s u l t i n g e x p l o s i o n s removed s e c t i o n s of t h e b r i c k e x t e r i o r w a l l and complicated t h e f i r e f i g h t i n g o p e r a t i o n s ( P i g . 37)

.

VJUTHER DATA.- A t 3.00 p.m. t h e a i r t e m p e r a t u r e was 23OF, t h e

F S I Z E T ~ U m i d i t y was 60 p e r c e n t , and a west wind was blowing a t 1 0 mph.

CONSTRUCTION.- This w a s a wood-frame s t r u c t u r e w i t h a b r i c k - v e n e e r and s t u c c o f i n i s h on t h e e x t e r i o r . The b u i l d i n g was approximately 90 f t l o n g , 36 f t wide and two s t o r i e s h i g h . The f l a t r o o f w a s f i n i s h e d w i t h t a r and g r a v e l . The f l o o r s were wood and t h e i n t e r i o r f i n i s h on t h e w a l l s and c e i l i n g s was mainly combustible board.

SPREAD OF FIRE.- The f i r e o r i g i n a t e d i n t h e basement on t h e s o u t h s i d e o f t h e b u i l d i n g , which was w i t h o u t windows. I t t h e n s p r e a d t o t h e combustible s t o r a g e m a t e r i a l and wood p a r t i t i o n s . Extending i n a v e r t i c a l d i r e c t i o n up t h e s o u t h w a l l between t h e wood s t u d s t o t h e r o o f , t h e f i r e s p r e a d between t h e f a l s e c e i l i n g s c o n s t r u c t e d on each f l o o r ( P i g . 3 8 ) . A n open s t a i r - c a s e a t t h e f r o n t of t h e b u i l d i n g c a r r i e d t h e f l a m e s and smoke t o t h e upper f l o o r s and made it v e r y d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e f i r e f i g h t e r s t o e n t e r t h e upper p a r t of t h e b u i l d i n g by t h i s

r o u t e ( F i g . 3 7 ) . The r a p i d s p r e a d of flames and smoke caused e x p l o s i o n s a t t h e r e a r of t h e b u i l d i n g ( F i g .

3 9 ) .

REMARECS.- Change of occupancy i n t h i s b u i l d . i n g r e q u i r e d

c o n s t r u c t i o n of s t o r a g e b i n s i n t h e basement where o v e r s t u f f e d f u r n i t u r e was s t o r e d . When f i r e o c c u r s i n t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s it u s u a l l y r e s u l t s i n l a r g e p r o p e r t y l o s s because of smoke

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damage. The f i g h t i n g of smoky f i r e s cannot be e f f e c t i v e l y c a r r i e d out by any s e t r u l e o r procedure; c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g , c l a s s of occupancy and t h e l i f e hazard e x i s t i n g a l l have a b e a r i n g on t h e o p e r a t i o n .

Building codes d o n o t have s u i t a b l e requirements f o r basements t o prevent t h i s c l a s s of f i r e from occurring. U n t i l proper l e g i s l a t i o n i s enacted t o overcome t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s i n basements t h e r e i s always t h e r i s k of t h i s type o f f i r e when f u r n i t u r e i s s t o r e d i n t h e basement.

(19)

DBR FIRE STTJDY ITO. _--- 10/5'7 Date o f F i r e :

---..- 22 Decembcr 1.957 L o c a t i o n : 0-t-tawa

,

Ont

.

Time o f F i r e : _--

No. o f S t o r i e s : 2

Day of Week:

---.-- Sunda:;

ICstimated Loss _--- : :,:ji150,000 SCHOOL BUILDING _---

GENERAL.- T h i s f i r e o c c u r r e d s h o r t l y a f t e r noon on Sunday i n a S e p a r a t e School b u i l d i n g which was b u i l t a b o u t 1885 and was c o n s i d e r e d one o f t h e c i t y ' s landmarks. A number o f f i r e s had o c c u r r e d i n o t h e r s c h o o l s b u t t h e i r c a u s e had n o t b e e n d e f i n i t e l y e s t a b l i s h e d . T h i s f i r e was d i s c o v e r e d when a t e a c h e r e n t e r e d t h e y a r d t o v i s i t t h e s c h o o l . I t o r i g i n a t e d i n t h e h a l l w a y o f t h e first f l o o r and was o f a n i n c e n d i a r y n a t u r e . S p r e a d i n g

r a p i d l y up t h e w a l l s and open s t a i r c a s e it i n v o l v e d t h e i n t e r i o r of t h e o l d s e c t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g .

VEATHER DATA.

-

A t 1 2 noon t h e a i r t e m p e r a t u r e was 38OF a n d . t h e

--

r e l a t i v e h u m i d i t y was 67 p e r c e n t with. a SOU.~-hwest wind b l o w i n g a t 6 mph.

CONSTRUCTION.- The wood-frame b r i c k - v e n e e r b u i l d i n g i n which t h e f i r e o c c u r r e d was c o r ~ s t r u c t e d w i t h wood j o i s t f l o o r s , and l a t h and p l a s t e r i n t e r i o r f i n i s h on t h e w a l l s and c e i l i n g s .

A t w o - s t o r y s o l i d b r i c k a d d i t i o n had b e e n added a t t h e s o u t h s i d e . The r o o f s were f l a t , f i n i s h e d w i t h t a r and g r a v e l .

SPREAD OF FIRE.- The f i r e c o u l d have been b u r n i n g f o r some t i m e b e f o r e i t d e t e c t e d . I t a t e i t s

way

i n t o t h e w a l l s and

c e i l i n g s and. e n t e r e d t h e unused open a t t i c s p a c e u n d e r t h e roof' t o s p r e a d t h e l e n g t h o f t h e b u i l d i n g . Lack o f f i r e s t o p s

between t h e wood s t u d s i n t h e w a l l s and t h e wide open s t a i r c a s e l e a d i n g t o t h e u p p e r f l o o r p r o v i d e d a means f o r t h e f i r e t o s p r e a d .

TIEI~:IARI(S.- B u i l d . i n g s o f t h i s c l a s s and a g e a r e v e r y v u l n e r a b l e t o t h e s p r e a d o f f i r e and every p r e c a u t i o n s h o u l d be t a k e n t o m a i n t a i n good houselceeping and p r o p e r exi-1; f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f l i f e and p r o p e r t y . Had t h e b u i l d i n g been occupied- t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h i s f i r e , a t t l i e open s t a i r c a s e , c o u l d have

(20)

DBR FIR3 STUDY NO. 11/57

Date of P i r e : 30 December 1357 L o c a t i o n :

-

Ottawa, Ont. Time o f F i r e : 12.05 p.m. Day o f Veek: l.;Ionda y

No. o f S t o r i e s :

12

RESIDENCES

Estimated Loss:

-

$20,000

GENERAL.- The f i r e began s h o r t l y a f t e r noon i n a n u n f i n i s h e d d w e l l i n g b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d i n one of t h e c i t y ' s suburban a r e a s . T h i s f i r e was of p a r t i c u . l a r i n t e r e s t t o t h e F i r e S e c t i o n

because

it

s p r e a d by h e a t r a d i a t i o n t o two n e i g h b o u r i n g d w e l l i n g s ( s e e F r o n t i s p i e c e ) .

A workman a c c i d e n t a l l y d i s l o d g e d a n o i l - b u r n i n g u n i t , which was used on t h e f i r s t f l o o r t o h e a t t h e b u i l d i n g d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n . The o i l i g n i t e d and s e t f i r e t o t h e u n f i n i s h e d f l o o r and i n t e r i o r . The f i r e t h e n spread t o t h e r o o f and a d j a c e n t d w e l l i n g s .

WEATIiER DATA.

-

A t 1 2 noon t h e t e m p e r a t u r e was 10°F above

z e r o w i t h a r e l a t i v e humidity of

59

p e r c e n t and a calm condi- t i o n p r e v a i l i n g .

COBSTRUCTI0N.- The d w e l l i n g i n which t h e f i r e occurred was a 3imber-framed, one and a h a l f s t o r y s t r u c t u r e w i t h a p i t c h e d r o o f . The framing had been completely i n f i l l e d w i t h

3

i n c h e s of m i n e r a l wool and s h e a t h e d e x t e r n a l l y w i t h a s p h a l t - f a c e d f i b r e i n s u l a t i o n board. A c o n c r e t e b r i c k e x t e r i o r f i n i s h had been e r e c t e d up t o t h e f i r s t f l o o r l e v e l . The r o o f had been completed, t h e s u b f l o o r s l a i d and a l l windows were i n s t a l l e d

( T i e . 4 2 ) .

SPREXD OP FIRE.- The f i r e s p r e a d v e r y r a p i d l y i n t h e b u i l d i n g of o r i g i n , d e s t r o y i n g t h e i n t e r i o r framework and r o o f . The s i d e walls of t h e two a d j a c e n t d w e l l i n g s were only a f f e c t e d on t h e v e r t i c a l s i d e s d i r e c t l y exposed t o r a d i a t i o n from t h e

b u r n i n g d w e l l i n g ( P i g . 4 1 ) .

REMARKS.- T h i s i n s t a n c e i l l u s t r a t e s t h e need f o r good f i r e p r e v e n t i o n practices ' b e i n g observed d u r i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of b u i l d i n g s . Temporary h e a t i n g u n i t s can be f i r e h a z a r d s and

c a r e l e s s n e s s , i n one form o r a n o t h e r , i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r mos-L f i r e s . The i g n i t i o n of t h e wood on b o t h t h e a d j a c e n t d w e l l i n g s would have been p r e v e n t e d had t h e s e p a r a t i o n between t h e houses been g r e a t e r t h a n 24 f t o r had %he concre-te briclc w a l l i n tile b u i l d i n g of o r i g i n been ex-tended up t o -the r o o f . F i g u r e 40

(21)

DBR

FIRE STUDY

KO.

12/58

Date of F i r e : _-.-.- 1 0 J a n u a r y

1558

L o c a t i o n : _.- Ottawa, Ont. Time of P i r e :

-

--

--- 9.40 a.m.

----

Day of Beel,;: F r i d a y

No. of S t o r i e s : -.--

3

--.--- E s t i m a t e d Loss .-- : :11;250,000

COBNI32CI.AL STORES AND 'JAREHOUSE

--..- ---

GENERAL.- A s e r i o u s f i r e , o c c u r r e d a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3.40 a.m. i n t h e k i t c h e n of a r e s t a u r a n t l o c a t e d on t h e f i r s t f l o o r of a warehouse and b u s i n e s s b l o c k n e a r l y a h a l f c e n t u r y o l d . The b u i l d i n g accornrnodated a f u r n i t u r e v~arehouse and a hardware b u s i n e s s , a s w e l l a s a r e s t a u r a n t , and -f;hey bot-?I requ.ired considera'ule s-l-oraee space on t h e second and t h i r d f l o o r s . S o l i d masonry w a l l s s e p a r a t e d t h e a d j o i n i n g b u i l d i n g s an.d p r e v e n t e d t h e f i r e from s p r e a d i n s o u t s i d e -tIiu b u i l d i n g in

which it o r i g i n a t e d . However, c o n s i d e r a b l e smo3:e and 1 ~ a - t e r damage was caused t o t h e ad jacen-t b ~ x s i n e s s , premises.

"!lL4THER DATA.

-- -

A t 9.00 a . rn. t h e a i r t ernperature was 3 2

OF

and -eth-e c o u r s e of t h e f i r e r a n s e a from

32OP

t o 34OP w i t h t h e r e l a t i v e hwnidity v a r y i n g from

7 1

t o

59

p e r cen-t. A southwest- wind of from

5

t o

7

rnph l?~as blovring.

CONSTRIJCTIOTJ.

-

The b u i l d i l ~ ~ ; was c o n s t r u c t e d of s o l i d m a s o n r j

-

w l m a - e d r o o f covered w i t h wood s h i n g l e s . Lar:<e t i m b e r j o i s t s p r o t r u d i n g from t h e masonry w a l l s s u p p o r t e d t h e wood f l o o r s . Plas-L-er p r o v i d e d t h e i n t e r i o r f i n i s 1 1 f o r the w a l l s and V - j o i n t and combustible m a t e r i a l s were used on -the c e i l i n g an2 p a r t i t i o n s .

SPIX3AD OP FIRE.- The f l a m e s s p r e a d v e r y q u i c k l y i n t h e g r e a s e - l a c l e 6 7 8 i e x h s T f a n and c h u t e t o i g n i t e t h e t i n d e r - d r y p i n e

f l o o r s and combustible i n t e r i o r f i n i s h . P u r n i t u r e s t o r a g e on

t h e upper f l o o r provided f u e l f o r t h e f i r e ~ ~ h i c l z s p r e a d t o destro?: t h e i n t e r i o r and c o n t e n t s o f t h e b u i l d i n g .

RJ.Hl1ARI.3.

-

R e s t a u r a n t s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e where b r o i l i n g and =ink-are e x t e n s i v e opera-L-ions, can c r e a t e a d e f i n i t e f i r e h a z a r d u n l e s s p r o p e r p r e c a u t i o n s a r e observed. The srnoke and furnes - t h a t soon become flamtnable if a l l o w e d t o ~ c c u j ~ i u l a t e i n t h e d u c t s must be c l e a n e d OWL. Elany o f t h e s e o l d e r b u i l d i n g s a r e 2ut- t o a u s e f o r v?l~icl? t h e y were n o t d e s i g n e d . The cornbus- t i b l e m a t e r i a l s t o r e d on t h e upper f l o o r s added such f u e l t o

-the f i r e t h a ' t en-t;r,y t o t h e b u i l d i n g was n e a r l y i ! n p o s s i 3 l e and f i r e - f i i z h t i n g o p e r a t i o n s were more d i f f i c u l t .

(22)

L)T?l? FIRE STUDY _----.---- NO. 13/58

Date o f P i r e :

--- 6 Fcbruar:; 1.958 -.-- I;oca.l;ion: Ottal,wqa, Ont.

Time of F i r e : ----.- No. of S t o r i e s : 2 Day of ' ~ l e ~ l r :

-

--- Thursday 'I.<sti~nated Loss :

;'75

,000 -.--.-. ---

GENXIUL.

-

T h i s b l o c k of a t t a c l ~ e d b u i l d i n g s !"ere olci d r v e l l i n ~ s t h a t had been converted i n t o a jiara[;e, a n e l e c t r i c a l r e p a i r s h o n , a s t o r a g e , and a r e s - t a u r a n t on t h e c o r n e r , w i t h a n a p a r t m e n t on t h e seconci f l o o r . The b u i l d . i n ~ ; s f r o n t e d on two s t r e e t s w i t h

e n t r a n c e and e x i t passageways ( P i g .

4 3 ) .

A t t h e t i m e of t h e f i r e f l o o r s p a c e i n t h e p a r a g e was a t a premium, a fact; whicli i n c r e a s e d t h e f i r e h:3zard and made

it d i f f i c u l % t o e v a c u a t e t h c c a r s . T h c f i r e caused c o n s i d e r a b l e damage and t h e b u i l d i n g s and t h e i r c o n t e n t s ivere d e s t r o y e d .

:"IXIZTIIER llcLTA.

-

Prom 1 2 noon t o 2.00 p.m. d u r i n e t h e c o u r s e of

F

h

e

f

'

i

r

e

x

t e n p c r a t u r e r a n g e d rfrorn 3" below z e r o t o z e r o w i t h a n o r b h ~ v e s t 1,vind blowing a t t l l e r a t e of 6 t o

7

mph.

CONSTRUCTION.

-

Sec.tions ~f t h e b u i l d - i n g s were t v o - s t o r y b r i c k - ----

v e n e e r c o n z r u c - L i o n wi-th f l n l t and piVt;ched. r o o f s . Tlze g a r a g e

sec-Lion mas onc s t o r y , cons-tmscted of s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t

m a t e r i a l s , w i t h a f l a t r o o f covered t v i t i l r o l l e d r o o f i n g , ' t a r and g r a v e l (Pic;.

4.4).

SPRZAII O:L1 .l'Ii?:Z. - Tile f i r e s t a r t e d i n t h e back p a r t of t h e

----.-

g a r a g e x ~ x e r a c a r ?s.12.ilc a n employee ~ ~ a s removing g a s o l i n e froin t h e .l;al~k (:l?i:;.

1-5)

.

Ti1.e f i r e occu.rred when a n e l e c t r i c l a n p bulb :r$Ilicll 10v:3:3 at-Lached -bo a n ex't-e11:;ion c o r d broke and

igni-bed t h e ;;as f u ~ . a e s and flar!~mable li q u i d . Tize f i r e s p r e a d very r a p i d l y -Lo .the a d j a c e n t c a r s ancl. t o t h e r o o f of t l l e {;ara,ye :?{here i - t -travell..ed t o -the a-L-bached b u l l c i i m ~ s and caused

c o n s i d e r a b l e danac;e t o proporJi;y and ecluipmen-t .

R'J7,qARI:S. - ;'Jith t h e e v e r - i n c r c n s i n g nu!nh c r of motor v s h i c l e s Ei-?iz-?ised f o r co!nnlerclal and p l e a s u r e p u r p o s e s , many h a z a r d o u s o p c r a t i o ~ n s a r e underbalien i n r c p a i r c a r a g e s vrllich r e q u i r e

p r o y e r .r;a:Cc;.;;l~~rti:; riin o r d e r t o rinsure snrye-l;;r -Lo 1-:ife allti p r o p e r t y

from f i r r c . Jianc'il.i~s:; o:C :Plar:i.ro:ibl.e I..iq.i~lid.s s h o u l d be c a r r i e d o u t ~ v e l l avra:; :rroiq r e y a i r and :;.';or;i;:c a r e a s .

In

-t-his i n s t a n c e cror-:tj.ed. [I-;ar:,\;;e conc?.ji'Lions, lac:.; o f 01-d.arlj.?~c;;:.;, a x 1 t l i c 1r:;c of i~r!;?;coper clr:c.bx-ic:~l ~ ( J J I ~ !xnl.:n-L

,

co!ilbinr:cI ;;!i-t-ll case1es:;nes s x e r e

i;be rna;jor :('actors rcs-[:onsit)I.c f o r - b l ~ c : lar;;c 3.0:;:-; i n p 1 - o ~ e r t y and c: (4.u 'j. $men I;

.

(23)

Date of F i r e : 1 5 March 151'58 L o c a t i o n : O t t a * ~ a

,

Ont

.

Time of P i r e :

-

1 1 . 0 0 a.m.

3

Day of 'Yeek: Sa-turda y

Es1;irnated L o s s : _---- ::1:35,000 FOUR-DOOR ROW RESIDENCE

GEITERRI;.

-

The f o u r - d o o r row which was i n v o l v e d i n t h i s f i r e

Ti-6) accommodated a 1ar:;e number o f r o o m e r s , most o f whom were a b s e n t when t h e f i r e o c c u r r e d . I n o r d e r t o r e - l i g h - t t h e c o a l - b u r n i n g f u r n a c e i n t h e end r e s i d e n c e t h e t e n a n t had rcmoved h o t a s h e s from t h e f u r n a c e and had pl-aced them n e a r a p i l e of

o l d lumber i n t h e basement which had i g n i t e d . Occupants o:l: t h e

f i r s t and second f l o o r were a b s e n t b u t t h e f i r e was d i s c o v e r e d

by t h e t e n a n t who o c c u p i e d t h e t h i r d f l o o r .

~~?EAT.'HER DATA.

-

The a i r t e m p e r a t u r e between 1 0 a . m . and 1 2 noon a ~ e r a g e ~ ~ ~ F , t h e r e l a t i v e h i x n i d i t y was

87

p e r cen-b a n d a wind was b l o w i n g from t h e n o r t h e a s t a-t 6 mph.

CONSTRUCTIOTJ.

-

The f i r s t two s t o r i e s o f t h e t h r e e - s t o r y b u i l d i n g were b r i c k e n e e r , t h e t h i r d was wood framle s h e a t h e d w i t h

a s b e s t o s and wood s h i n g l e s . The f l a t r o o f was c o v e r e d w i t h t a r and g r a v e l and a n unused open a t t i c s p a c e e x t e n d e d t h e l e n g t h of t h e

build in^

between t h e r o o f and c e i l i n g o f t h e t h i r d f l o o r

( P i g .

4 7 ) .

The p a r t i t i o n bvalls which s e p a r a t e d t h e f o u r d w e l l i n g s d i d n o t c o n t a i n f i r e s t o p s . The i n t e r i o r f i n i s h of t h e w a l l s , c e i l i n ~ s and p a r - t i t i o n s was wood s h e a t h i n g , l a t h and p l a s t e r and p a p e r e d ( F i g . 48).

SPRZAD OF

FIRE.

-

The f i r e o r i g i l i a t e d i n t h e baselgent, s p r e a d -Lo t h e c e i l i n g and up t h e open s t a i r c a s e . I t t h e n i p i t e d t h e

s e p a r a t i o n w a l l between t h e b u i l d i n g o f o r i g i n and. t h e n e x t d w e l l i n g . Lack of f i r e s t o p s i n t h e p a r t i t i o n s permit-bed t h e f i r e t o s p r e a d h o r i z o n t a l l y t o t h e u ~ i u s e d open a t t i c s p a c e u n d e r -the roo:P. I t e x t e n d e d t h e l e n s - t h of t h e b u i l d i n 3 aiid

i g n i t e d t h e r o o f . L i v e embers drop:ped dolvll i n t e r i o r p a r t i t i o i ~ s and i g n i t e d t h e w a l l s of t h e a t t a c h e d d w e l l i n g s a t e a c h f l o o r l e v e l c a u s i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e damage.

RZbIARES.

-

Owing t o p o o r house keep in^;, a c o l l e c t i o n of w a s t e

ma"teriX1 was s t o r e d i n t h e basement ifi'siere t h e f i r e s - L a r t e d . Some of th.e o c c u p a n t s had s l e e - p i n g q u a r t e r s i n -bile basement

( T i c .

4 9 ) .

Delay i n discover;^ a l l o 7 ~ ~ e d t h e f i r e -to -brave1 h o r i - zon-Lallg a n d v e r t i c a l l y i n t h e b u i l d i n < . ; . .?I-obal~ly ti l e ::;reat est; f a c t o r i n safe-L;; t o l i f e and p r o p e r t y i n inost e x i s t i n s buildin6:s o f ti:1o o r more s t o r i e s i n h e i g h t i s tFie i n e v i t a b l e delajr i n d i s - c o v e r y oi' X i r e . 110-b ;:;;ases of combt~s1;ion ~ i . : - ; e and expand i n t o %he

u p p e r floor:; of t h e b u i l d i n l ; slid t h e fir{: sprec?c?s r a s ~ i c l l y b e f o r e

(24)

Date of F i r e : 30 March 1950 L o c a t i o n : Ottawa

,

Ont

.

Time of F i r e : 11.57 a.m. Day of Week: Sunday

4

Iistimated Loss : $150,000

COIAMERCIAL STORES AND OPPICES

GENERAL.- Considerable damage vras caused i n t h i s f o u r - s t o r y b u s i n e s s b l o c k of s t o r e s and o f f i c e s ( F i g . 50) s h o r t l y a f t e r 11.30 a.m. on a Sunday. A p a s s e r - b y n o t i c e d smolce coming from one of t h e s t o r e s and gave t h e alarm. Because of t h e t i m e and day t h e f i r e gained c o n s i d e r a b l e headway i n t h e c e i l i n g and

w a l l s of t h e f i r s t f l o o r , f i l l i n g t h e u p p e r f l o o r s and a d j o i n i n g s t o r e s w i t h smoke, b e f o r e it was detected-.

WEATHER DATA.

-

The a i r t e m p e r a t u r e a t 1 2 noon was 51'3'. The r e l a t i v e humidity was 38 p e r c e n t and a southwest wind was blowing a t

7

mph.

CONSTRUCTION.- The b u i l d i n g was of s o l i d b r i c k c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h wo-ist f l o o r s and. a f l a t t a r and g r a v e l r o o f . Load- b e a r i n g b r i c k w a l l s d i v i d e d t h e b u i l d i n g a t s e v e r a l p o i n t s . The i n t e r i o r f i n i s h e s used v a r i e d consid.erably b u t i n t h e a r e a i n which t h e f i r e s p r e a d t h e r e were p l y w o o d . p a n e l s , combustible wallboard and wood f i b r e a c o u s t i c t i l e s ( F i g . 5 1 ) .

SPRSAD OF FIRE.- The f i r e appeared t o have o r i g i n a t e d a t t h e r e a r of a d r e s s shop l o c a t e d i n t h e c e n t r e of t h e b u i l d i n g

( F i g . 5 2 ) . From t h e r e it t r a v e l l e d between f l o o r j o i s t s and t h r o u g h f a l s e c e i l i n g c o n s t n z c t i o n t o t h e a d j o i n i n g s t o r e s

( F i g . 5 3 ) . The f i r e was c o n f i n e d t o t h e f i r s t and second.

s t o r i e s b u t c o n s i d e r a b l e smoke and \vat e r damage s p r e a d throughout t h e b u i l d i n g .

REI\ilARYiS.

-

The owner of t h e - s t o r e had v i s i t e d h i s premises p r i o r t o t h e d i s c o v e r y of t h e f i r e and r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e r e was no v i s i b l e s i g n of f i r e a t t h a t time. Some t r o u b l e had been

r e p o r t e d w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e e l e c t r i c a l c e i l i n g f i x t u r e s and

it

may be t h a t t h i s c o n d i t i o n was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e f i r e .

Many of o u r most u s e f u l b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s a r e of a combustible n a t u r e . Many e x i s t i n g s t r u c t u r e s were b u i l t o r r e n o v a t e d without c o n s i d e r i n g whether o r n o t t h e m a t e r i a l s used l i m i t t h e s p r e a d of f i r e . F a i l u r e t o d i s c o v e r t h e f i r e

i n i t s e a r l y s t a g e s was t h e p r i n c i p a l cause of most of t h e f i r e l o s s .

(25)

DRR FIRE

STUDY

NO. 1.6/53 .---

Date of F i r e : 29 A p r i l 1358 Location: Ottawa, Ont.

Time of P i r e :

-

4.25 p.m. Day of Week: Tuesday

4

Es-timated Loss : ~ ~ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 COAL STORAGE BUILDING

GENERAL.- A t 4.25 p.m. a n employee n o t i c e d smoke coming from %he roof of t h i s f o u r - s t o r y wood-frame s t o r a g e shed (Pig.

5 1 ) .

The shed contained l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of v a r i o u s grades of c o a l , s t o r e d i n wooden b i n s . The f i r e seemed t o spread very q u i c k l y throughout t h e e n t i r e s t r u c t u r e and, a i d e d by h i g h winds, s e n t f l y i n g embers on t h e r o o f s of many wood-constructed b u i l d i n g s i n t h e a r e a . A number of f i r e s were s t a r t e d by t h e f l y i n g embers which caused some concern i n t h e immediate a r e a because

it

contained a c o n s i d e r a b l e amount of combustible m a t e r i a l s . Heat r a d i a t i o n from t h e b u i l d i n g i g n i t e d b r i c k s i d i n g on a b u i l d i n g 86 f t t o t h e n o r t h and destroyed a one-story b r i c k - veneer o f f i c e b u i l d i n g 40 f t e a s t of t h e f i r e .

WEATHER DATA.- A t t h e time of t h e f i r e t h e temperature was

T D p , t h e r e l a t i v e humidity was 85 p e r c e n t and a wind of 1 0 mph was blowing from a n o r t h e a s t d i r e c t i o n .

COWSTRUCT1ON.- The b u i l d i n g was f o u r s t o r i e s i n h e i g h t , con- s t r u c t e d w i t h heavy wood j o i s t s . VVood chu-tes ex-tended from

under t h e roof t o wood b i n s on each f l o o r f o r c o a l d i s t r i b u t i o n . The e x t e r i o r w a l l s above t h e f i r s t f l o o r and t h e roof were

sheathed w i t h t i n . A n enclosed wood s t a i r c a s e l e d from t h e f i r s t t o t h e f o u r t h f l o o r on t h e e a s t s i d e . A n e l e c t r i c motor

w a s housed on t h e t o p f l o o r a t t h e s o u t h end of t h e b u i l d i n g t o o p e r a t e t h e c o a l conveyors (Fig.55).

SPREAD OP FIRE

.-

This f i r e s t a r t e d f r o m a s h o r t c i r c u i t i n a n e l e c t r i c motor l o c a t e d a t t h e s o u t h end of t h e f o u r t h f l o o r . The motpr was used t o o p e r a t e a conveyor b e l t . The f i r e spread very quickly i n t h e o i l - and dust-soaked wood c o n s t r u c t i o n . I t a l s o spread t o a number of o i l d e l i v e r y t r u c k s l o c a t e d i n t h e y a r d and t o o t h e r b u i l d i n g s i n t h e a r e a b e f o r e it was brought under c o n t r o l (Fig.

5 6 ) .

REMARKS.- Storage of c o a l i n t h i s c l a s s of b u i l d i n g does n o t u s u a l l y involve a hazard because t h e time it i s i n s t o r a g e i s u s u a l l y s h o r t . However, wood b u i l d i n g s of t h i s t y p e , where c o a l and o i l d u s t accuma~late, can c o n t r i b u t e t o a r a p i d l y s p r e a d i n g f i r e when i g n i t e d .

(26)

DBR PIRE STUDY NO. 17/58

Date of P i r e : Location: Ottawa, Ont.

Time of P i r e : 9.30 p.m. Day of Week: niIonda y

No. of S t o r i e s : 2 Estimated Loss: !$100,000

STEEL BOX FACTORY

GENERAL.- This b u i l d i n g had been used f o r many purposes s i n c e it was f i r s t occupied a s a church and a t t h e time of t h e f i r e w a s used a s a f a c t o r y f o r manufacturing s t e e l wares. The f i r e was discovered when a passer-by n o t i c e d smoke coming from t h e b u i l d i n g . By t h e time t h e f i r e department a r r i v e d t h e second f l o o r , where a number of mixing machines and enamel baking ovens were l o c a t e d , was involved and t h e f i r e had spread t o t h e roof s e c t i o n ( P i g .

5 7 ) .

WEATHER DATA.- Between 9 and 11 p.m. t h e temperature was

44OF

and t h e r e l a t i v e humidity 50 p e r c e n t , w i t h a west wind blow- i n g a t 2 mph.

CONSTRUCTIOT?.

-

The two-story s o l i d b r i c k b u i l d i n g 'was approx-

5

l m a t e l y 96

f t

i n l e n g t h and

45 f t

i n width.

A

p i t c h e d roof w i t h wood j o i s t s sheathed w i t h rough lumber and covered w i t h a s b e s t o s s h i n g l e s extended t h e l e n g t h of t h e b u i l d i n g . There was a l a r g e unused open a t t i c space between t h e roof and second f l o o r c e i l i n g . The f l o o r s were wood, w i t h wood p a r t i t i o n s

separa-ting t h e o f f i c e sec-tion from t h e f a c t o r y . Wo i n t 2 r i o i - f i n i s h was used on t h e b r i c k supporting w a l l s .

1 j _--1 . - The sccontl : f l . o o r , viher? t h e f i r e o~-:i;:in;;.ted, c o n l ; a i r l > ~ a n ~ ~ t n b e r . o f e l e c t r i c n o - t o r s

,

nixing ma clzil~e r; and. in-

:It.

flammable I..iquif3:; u.st?d in t h e ope:ri3l;ion of t h e f a c t o r y . 2'- f i r e spread t o tht: c e i l i n g and npzn atl;.ic s-iwce anil des-kroyeci

t h e e n t l ~ e roo? and second f l o o r . Cause o f t h e f i r e was not

determined. o w i n g t o t h e e x t e n s i v e da:i~a,~e and (30? 1 . ; 7 ? : j ( + c ? f t h e

r o o f and s e c o n d f l . o o r (Ti,?.

58)

.

RE?URKS.- The occurrence of f i r e i n t h i s b u i l d i n g , and t h e c o l - T a y e of t h e second f l o o r because of t h e heavy machinery, s e r v e

t o i l l u s t r a t e t h a t e x i s t i n g b u i l d i n g s should n o t be renovated and occupied f o r use o t h e r t h a n t h a t f o r which they were o r i g i - n a l l y designed, u n l e s s proper p r o t e c t i o n i s provided f o r t h e new occupancy c o n d i t i o n s . I f flammable l i q u i d s a r e n o t properly

s t o r e d and w e l l p r o t e c t e d f o r handlin.g, t h e y p r e s e n t a poten- t i a l f i r e hazard (Fig.