By Canadian Press

Working smoke alarm in just 45% of 2022 home fires in B.C.: report

Jun 8, 2023 | 11:36 AM

VICTORIA — A report from British Columbia’s fire commissioner says there were 86 deaths due to fires in the province last year, a toll that has tripled in three years.

The report says there were more than 9,000 fires last year, and that a working fire alarm was present in only 45 per cent of blazes that occurred in homes. 

B.C. Fire Commissioner Brian Godlonton pointed to a number of factors contributing to the increase in fire injuries and deaths including an aging population, homelessness encampments, working from home due to COVID-19 and increasing population density in rural areas.

The B.C. government has announced it will provide $1.6 million for a new campaign to educate people about proper smoke-alarm use and reducing the risk of fires. 

The government and Statistics Canada have also created a dashboard to provide statistical and geographical information on fires in B.C. that is expected to be rolled out across the province in the coming weeks.

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Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says in a statement that the fire deaths represent an “alarming trend,” and a working smoke alarm is a critical tool for saving lives. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023. 

The Canadian Press