Fire in Buildings

Abstract

During the lifetime of any building in Canada it is probable that one or more "unwanted" fires will occur. "Fire Loss in Canada, 1959," the report of the Dominion Fire Commissioner, states that for the period 1950-1959 the average number of reported fires per year was 73,000, with over 95 per cent of them occurring in buildings. The size of fires can vary from extremely small ones, a cigarette scorching a hole in a rug, to those causing complete destruction of both building and contents. It is important to keep constantly in mind that almost all fires, if allowed to spread unchecked, can result not only in financial loss but give rise also to bodily injury and in some cases to death itself.