1. Preliminary Analysis of Canadian Fire Data
Mahendra Wijayasinghe
Manager, Research & Analysis
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
CCFM/FC Meeting – September 2011, Calgary

2. Outline Canadian Code Structure - 2002 Key CCS variables for analysis
Data sources
Analysis
Fire deaths
Fire losses
Top-down analysis of fires
Areas of fire origin and causes of fire in Canadian homes
Observations/conclusions

3. Canadian Code Structure on Fire Loss Statistics 2002 Edition

4. Key CCS Variables for Analysis
Incident information
Year
Date/Time
Location
Response time
Property description
Major occupancy
Property classification
Property details
Method of construction
Year of construction
Building height
Ground floor area
Number of occupants
Fire protection features
Fire protection device
Circumstances contributing to the outbreak of fire
Source of Ignition/Igniting Object
Material First ignited
Act or Omission
/Possible Cause
Factors relating to the origin and spread of fire
Area of origin
Level of origin
Smoke spread avenues
Fire loss details
Dollar Loss
Discovery of fire and action taken
Initial Detection
Action taken
Performance of automatic ext. equipment
Performance of Smoke alarm device
Method of fire control
Fire casualties
Age
Sex
Status
Action &Condition
# Deaths/ Injuries

5. (06-08') (03-07') (08') Data Sources (Year = 2007) DND
75% - 98% of Canadian Pop.
DND
(06-08')
(03-07')
(08')
Loss Fires
Data Flow: Sources > Excel file > SAS data > Analysis/Synthesis> Report

6. Fire Deaths Province 2007 Population Fire Deaths Fire Death Rate† ON
12,792,900 92
0.7 QC
7,687,400 50 BC
4,309,600 37
0.9 AB
3,512,700 23 MB
1,193,600 28
2.3 SK
1,000,300 21
2.1 NS
935,800 10
1.1 NB
745,500 11
1.5 NT
43,500
4.4 (03-07’)
10.1
Canada*
32,221,300*
276.4
USA**
301,621,157
3,430
† Fire deaths per 100,000 population.

7. 81%

10. Fires Province 2007 Population Fires Fire Rate ≠ ON 12,792,900 14,310
1.1 BC
4,309,600
7,847
1.8 AB
3,512,700
5,310
1.5 MB
1,193,600
5,983
5.0 SK
1,000,300
3,245
3.2 NS
935,800
659
0.7 NB
745,500
5,302
7.1
NWT
43,500 97
2.2
Canada*
24,533,900
42,753
1.7
DND**
443
USA°
301,621,157
1,557,500
5.1 .

11. Fire Losses - $ Province 2007 Population $ Losses $Loss/Capita ON
12,792,900
549,390,867 43 BC
4,309,600
436,985,580
101 AB
3,512,700
333,256,887 95 MB
1,193,600
125,895,528
105 SK
1,000,300
59,020,321 59 NS
935,800
19,225,804 21 NB
745,500
26,115,223 35
NWT
43,500
1,766,969 41
Canada*
24,533,900
1,551,657,179 63
DND
1,369,584
USA**
301,621,157
14,639,000,000 49
1.5 billion vs 14.6 billion >> 1 billion has 9 zeros

12. Top-down Analysis Structural, Vehicle, Outdoor Fires Residential Fires
Home Fires
Areas of Fire Origin
Fire Causes

14. 79%
69%
USA: 78% of all structure fires occurred in residential properties in 2007.

15. 89%
93%
USA: 75.2% of residential fires in 1 and 2 family dwellings and apartments.

16. 73%
32%

17. Data sources: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS & NWT (n=13,256)

18. (USA)
Source: Home Structure Fires (2011). Marty Ahrens, NFPA, Fire Analysis Research Division

27. Data sources: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS & NWT (n=13,461)

28. (USA)
Source: Home Structure Fires (2011). Marty Ahrens, NFPA, Fire Analysis Research Division

29. Observations…
While using the Canadian Coding Structure as the base, various provinces have developed their own coding, each somewhat different from the CCS.
Different coding structures poses a challenge to data analysis and interpretation.
There are many benefits to using a fire reporting system containing uniform terminology and coding.
SAS analysis is possible by modifying SAS programs to handle data differences.
Present analysis used codes and, where necessary, text descriptions to sort data in to meaningful groups.