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B.C. partners with Stats Canada to prevent fire-related deaths through new dashboard

June 9, 2022, Vancouver – British Columbia’s provincial government has partnered with Statistics Canada to create a Community Fire Risk Reduction Dashboard to help B.C. fire services prevent fires, reduce injuries and save lives.

“Since 2020, we have seen a concerning trend of rising fire deaths across B.C. and the rest of Canada. We need to do more to keep people and first responders safe by preventing these fires from happening,” said Brian Godlonton, B.C.’s fire commissioner, in a news release. “The new dashboard identifies the areas most at risk of fires, so we know where to focus our fire prevention and safety programs. These advancements will not only prevent fires but, more importantly, prevent injuries and save lives.”

The “dashboard” will provide statistical and geographical information to help B.C.’s fire services identify areas in communities at greatest risk of home fires. This information will be used to provide safety information targeted to areas that need it most. This will help protect residents, firefighters, and reduce the social and financial impacts to communities resulting from those fires.

Over the last two reporting years, there has been a 119 per cent increase in fire-related deaths around B.C., according to the Office of the Fire Commissioner’s annual report. In 2021, there were 59 fire-related deaths and 180 fire injuries. People over the age of 65 were over-represented in fire deaths. Only 42 per cent of reported residential structure fires had a working smoke alarm.

“I’m deeply concerned about the growing number of fire-related deaths in our province. We are working on tackling this problem, and the new Community Fire Risk Reduction Dashboard will be extremely important to helping us prevent fires and save lives,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, in a press statement. “I’m urging everyone to test their smoke alarms at least every six months to keep you and your family safe. Prevention is a key part of this, because fewer fires means healthier first responders and a safer province.”

The Office of the Fire Commissioner will be launching pilots of the dashboard with the cities of Coquitlam, Surrey, and Port Alberni in July. The office intends to rollout the dashboard provincially in early 2023.