Quarterly Digest
Volume 9 - Number 3 March 2000
- Preface
- Map: B.C. Local Health Areas
- British Columbia: Local Health Areas (LHA) within
Health Regions
- Vital Event Statistics - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Population, Livebirth, Death, Marriage, Stillbirth, Infant Deaths)
- Selected Birth Statistics - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Low Birthweight, Preterm, Teenage Mother, Elderly Gravida, Cesarean Section)
- External Causes of Death - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Accidents - [Motor Vehicle Accidents, Poisoning, Falls, Burns/Fire, Drowning, Other], Suicide, Homicide, Other External Causes)
- Neoplasm Deaths - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Lung, Female Breast, Colorectal, Other G.I., Female Reproductive,
Prostate, Blood/Lymph, Other Malignancy, Nonmalignant and Unspecified)
- Heart Disease Deaths - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Rheumatic/Valvular, Hypertension, Ischemic, Conductive &
Dysrhythmic, Heart Failure, Congenital, Other)
- Respiratory Disease Death Statistics - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Emphysema, COPD, Pneumonia, Influenza, Asthma, Lung Disease from External Agents, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Other Respiratory)
- Other Selected Death Statistics - July 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999 and Year-to-date Totals
(Diabetes, Alcohol-Related, AIDS, Other Infectious Disease, Cerebral and Other Vascular, Liver Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease)
- Summary Article:
Fire Deaths in British Columbia, 1986 to 1998
by Z. Kashaninia
This "Quarterly's" standard tables of vital event data are for the third quarter and to-date September 30, 1999. As in the format which began in 1998, counts are provided for the relatively recent "small" Local Health Areas and for 20 Health Regions.
Due to the fact that Vital Statistics Agency files are continually being updated, totals compiled by addition of the annual quarters will not correspond exactly to year-to-date and year-end figures. For the same reason, depending on the date the data are extracted, there will be differences in numbers presented in Volume 9 of this publication and those eventually reported in the 1999 Annual Report. Therefore, the numbers provided in this report should be considered provisional. Finally, the usual cautions regarding random fluctuations in values, particularly those involving small numbers, must be noted.
In BC, over the 13 years from 1986 to 1998, 618 people died due to fire and over 5,000 have been injured. This issue's feature article examines fire and conflagration mortality (accident, suicide, and homicide) for age, gender, types of fire deaths, and regional patterns. Comparative differences in age standardized rates from accidental fires between Status Aboriginal and the rest of the BC population is also provided. In addition, information boxes within the article provide a brief summary concerning, for example, suicide by fire, multiple victim events or the involvement of alcohol/smoking/drugs. Although there appears to be a declining trend in the numbers of deaths due to fires, information in this article may be useful for identifying and targeting areas of concern.
As always, requests for changes and suggestions or contributions for articles continue to be welcome. Your support and input into this publication is greatly appreciated.
| R.J. Danderfer
|
Soo-Hong Uh
|
| Director
|
Manager
|
| British Columbia
|
Information and Resource
|
| Vital Statistics Agency
|
Management Branch
|
|
|
Vital Statistics Agency
|
[
Return to Table of Contents]
British Columbia
Local Health Areas
[
Return to Table of Contents]
British Columbia:
Local Health Areas (LHA)
within Health Regions
01 East Kootenay LHA 01 Fernie 02 Cranbrook 03 Kimberley 04 Windermere 05 Creston 18 Golden
02 West Kootenay-Boundary LHA 06/07 Kootenay Lake/Nelson 09 Castlegar 10 Arrow Lakes 11 Trail 12/13 Grand Forks/Kettle Valley
03 North Okanagan LHA 19 Revelstoke 20 Salmon Arm 21 Armstrong-Spallumcheen 22 Vernon 78 Enderby
04 South Okanagan-Similkameen LHA 14 Southern Okanagan 15 Penticton 16 Keremeos 17 Princeton 23 Central Okanagan 77 Summerland
05 Thompson LHA 24 Kamloops 26 North Thompson 29 Lillooet 30 South Cariboo 31 Merritt
06 Fraser Valley LHA 32 Hope 33 Chilliwack 34 Abbotsford 75 Mission 76 Aggassiz-Harrison
|
07 South Fraser Valley LHA 35 Langley 36 Surrey 37 Delta
08 Simon Fraser LHA 40 New Westminster 42 Maple Ridge 43 Coquitlam
09 Coast Garibaldi LHA 46 Sunshine Coast 47 Powell River 48 Howe Sound
10 Central Vancouver Island LHA 65 Cowichan 66 Lake Cowichan 67 Ladysmith 68 Nanaimo 69 Qualicum 70 Alberni
11 Upper Island/Central Coast LHA 71 Courtenay 72/84 Campbell River/ Vancouver Island West 83 Central Coast 85 Vancouver Island North
12 Cariboo LHA 25 100 Mile House 27 Cariboo-Chilcotin 28 Quesnel 49 Bella Coola Valley
13 North West LHA 50 Queen Charlotte 51 Snow Country 52 Prince Rupert 53 Upper Skeena 54 Smithers 80 Kitimat 87/94 Stikine/Telegraph Creek 88 Terrace 92 Nisga'a
|
14 Peace Liard LHA 59 Peace River South 60 Peace River North 81 Fort Nelson
15 Northern Interior LHA 55/93 Burns Lake/Eutsuk 56 Nechako 57 Prince George
16 Vancouver LHA 161 Vancouver City Centre 162 Vancouver Downtown East Side 163 Vancouver North East 164 Vancouver West Side 165 Vancouver Midtown 166 Vancouver South Unknown Vancouver
17 Burnaby LHA 41 Burnaby
18 North Shore LHA 44 North Vancouver 45 West Vancouver-Bowen Island
19 Richmond LHA 38 Richmond
20 Capital LHA 61 Greater Victoria 62 Sooke 63 Saanich 64 Gulf Islands
|
[
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by Z. Kashaninia
Introduction
Over the past 13 years, 618 individuals lost their lives due to fires in British Columbia. In addition to these deaths, there were over 5000 injuries as a result of fires during the same period. The majority of these deaths and injuries occurred in residential homes at night between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m (
Fire Losses in British Columbia, Office of the Fire Commissioner's Report). Over 80 percent of all deaths and injuries were as a result of accidental fires at home with the rest being reported as suicides, homicides, forest fires as well as explosion deaths.
This report will provide an analysis of all fire deaths in British Columbia from 1986 to 1998. A regional analysis based on age, gender and regional differences as well as Age Specific Death Rates, Age Standardized Mortality Rates (ASMRs) and Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) will be provided. In addition, comparison of ASMRs between aboriginal population and the rest of the BC population will also be provided. For detailed analysis, all original death records from 1994 to 1998 were retrieved and examined. Based on this close examination, information boxes on fire related homicides, suicides, alcohol, drug and smoking related deaths as well as multiple fire victims will be provided. All data for injuries due to fires were obtained from, Fire Losses in British Columbia, published yearly by the Office of the Fire Commissioner, British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
Methodology
The British Columbia mortality data used in this report were obtained from Registrations and Medical Certifications of Death submitted to the British
Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. All disease and injury entities were coded to the International Classification of Diseases 9
th Revision
(ICD-9).
Age Standardized Mortality Rates (ASMRs) are a summary of age adjusted death rates by gender that are standardized to a specific population to compare different time periods or geographical locations. The Vital Statistics data that are used in this report are standardized to 1991 Canada Census population.
Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) are the ratio of the actual number of deaths in a Local Health Area (LHA) to the expected number of deaths in that area, based on provincial age-specific mortality rates. SMRs are used for comparing each LHA's observed fire deaths to the Province as a whole and are displayed through mapping.
Status aboriginal death events were identified using probabilistic record linkage using data from the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency, BC Medical Services Plan, and the Indian Status Verification file from the Medical Services Branch, Health Canada.
The icd codes for this fire study are:
| E8900-E8999 | | Conflagration in residential homes or public places |
| E9680 | | Assualt by fire or burning liquids (homicidal burns) |
| E9581 | | Suicide by fire |
E9230-E9239 with injury codes 9400-9494 & 9870-9879 | | Accidents caused by explosive material resulting in a burn or smoke/gas inhalation |
Figure 1
Total Fire Deaths
British Columbia, 1986 to 1998

-
The annual number of fire deaths in BC dropped by nearly half from 1986 to 1998.
- With 64 deaths, 1988 was the year with highest number of fire deaths. 1994 showed the lowest number of fire deaths with 32 deaths.
- From 1988 to 1998, the number of fire deaths declined continuously with the exception of 1992, 1995 and 1997.
| Suicide deaths by fire
Between 1986 and 1998, a total of 39 individuals (27 males, 12 females) died as a result of committing suicide by setting themselves on fire in their homes or vehicles. Sixty nine percent of those who died were 49 years of age or younger with the majority being males (18 males, 9 females). In fact, over the 13 years of study, more individuals in their 40s committed suicide by fire than any other age groups. Males had a higher number of suicide deaths than females in every age group. There were no suicide deaths from fire for those under 20 years of age and only one death was reported for those 70 years of age and over. |
Figure 2
Fire Deaths by Gender
British Columbia, 1986 to 1998
Table 1
Fire Deaths by Gender
British Columbia, 1986 to 1998
| Male | Female | Total |
| 1986 | 44 | 17 | 61 |
| 1987 | 34 | 16 | 50 |
| 1988 | 39 | 25 | 64 |
| 1989 | 41 | 19 | 60 |
| 1990 | 31 | 25 | 56 |
| 1991 | 31 | 19 | 50 |
| 1992 | 36 | 15 | 51 |
| 1993 | 28 | 14 | 42 |
| 1994 | 25 | 7 | 32 |
| 1995 | 23 | 16 | 39 |
| 1996 | 21 | 12 | 33 |
| 1997 | 27 | 17 | 44 |
| 1998 | 22 | 14 | 36 |
| Total | 402 | 216 | 618 |
Note: Includes 10 non BC residents.
-
Between 1986 and 1998, a total of 618 individuals (402 males and 216 females) died as a result of fires in British Columbia.
- Overall, a fire fatality was almost twice as likely to be male.
- Male deaths outnumbered female deaths in every year from 1986 to 1998.
- 1986 marked the highest number of deaths for males at 44. The highest number of deaths for females was 25 for both years of 1988 and 1990.
- There was an overall decline in fire deaths from 1986 to 1998 mostly due to the more marked decline in male deaths.
Figure 3
Cause and Place of Fire Deaths
British Columbia, 1986-1998

-
More than 83 percent of fire deaths were due to accidental fires in private homes in British Columbia from 1986 to 1998.
- Six percent of fire deaths during the same period were caused by suicides when individuals intentionally set themselves on fire in their homes or vehicles.
- Homicides, explosive fire accidents, fire accidents in public places and outdoor accidental fires, each comprised approximately two to three percent of all fire deaths between 1986 and 1998.
| Homicide deaths by fire
During the period of 1986 to 1998, a total of 17 individuals (7 males, 10 females) were victims of homicides by fire. (No homicidal fire deaths were reported for 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998). The majority of those who died (88 percent) were individuals 45 years of age or younger. Females, particularly those 40 years of age or younger, were more likely to die from homicidal fire deaths than males. Six children 8 years of age or younger were also victims of homicidal fires. |
Figure 4
Number of Injuries and Deaths Caused by Fire
British Columbia, 1986 to 1997

Table 2
Number of Injuries and Deaths Caused by Fire
British Columbia, 1986 to 1997
| Injuries | Deaths |
| 1986 | 343 | 61 |
| 1987 | 398 | 50 |
| 1988 | 380 | 64 |
| 1989 | 387 | 60 |
| 1990 | 464 | 56 |
| 1991 | 416 | 50 |
| 1992 | 479 | 51 |
| 1993 | 409 | 42 |
| 1994 | 428 | 32 |
| 1995 | 414 | 39 |
| 1996 | 432 | 33 |
| 1997 | 373 | 44 |
| Total | 4,923 | 582 |
Note: Includes non BC residents.
Source: Injury data from Fire Losses in BC. Office of the Fire Commissioner, BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 1997.
-
Between 1986 and 1997, there were 4,923 injuries and 582 deaths due to fires in British Columbia.
- With 479 injuries, 1992 was the year with the highest number of injuries. The highest number of deaths occurred in 1986 with 61 deaths.
- Over the period of 1986 to 1997, there was an overall decline in both injuries and deaths resulting from fires in British Columbia.
| Alcohol abuse and fire deaths
An examination of original death records from 1994 to 1998 revealed a relationship between alcohol abuse and fire deaths. During this five-year period, 28 percent of all those who died as a result of fire were intoxicated or had a history of alcohol abuse. Over half of all those who died of an alcohol related fire death were under 50 years of age. Males were more likely to die of an alcohol related fire death than females. In fact, of all 52 alcohol related fire deaths, 41 were males and 11 were females. |
Figure 5
Age Specific Death Rates Due to Fires
British Columbia, 1986-1998

Table 3
Age Specific Death Rates Due to Fires
British Columbia, 1986-1997
| Male | Female | Total |
| <1 | 3.31 | 2.09 | 1.70 |
| 1-4 | 3.66 | 1.28 | 1.88 |
| 5-9 | 1.42 | 0.81 | 0.73 |
| 10-14 | 1.32 | 0.69 | 0.67 |
| 15-19 | 1.81 | 0.48 | 0.93 |
| 20-24 | 2.37 | 0.69 | 1.20 |
| 25-29 | 2.50 | 0.60 | 1.29 |
| 30-34 | 1.99 | 0.45 | 1.00 |
| 35-39 | 1.89 | 0.77 | 0.95 |
| 40-44 | 1.90 | 0.85 | 0.96 |
| 45-49 | 3.12 | 0.82 | 1.59 |
| 50-54 | 3.08 | 1.20 | 1.56 |
| 55-59 | 2.39 | 0.78 | 1.21 |
| 60-64 | 2.90 | 0.92 | 1.44 |
| 65-69 | 4.65 | 1.36 | 2.20 |
| 70-74 | 5.42 | 1.42 | 2.43 |
| 75-79 | 6.93 | 2.32 | 2.94 |
| 80-84 | 8.60 | 2.81 | 3.54 |
| 85+ | 14.59 | 4.02 | 4.81 |
Note: Rate per 100,000 population. Non residents excluded.
-
The rate of death due to fire was highest for those aged 85 and over (4.81). The lowest rate was 0.67 for those aged 10-14.
- Males had a much higher rate than females in every age group over the period of 1986-1998.
- The chances of dying as a result of a fire increased markedly for both males and females aged 65 and over.
- Males aged 10-14 and females aged 30-34 had the lowest age specific death rates.
- Relatively high rates were also experienced by infants less than one year of age and children aged 1-4 years.
| Smoking and fire deaths
Each year, smoking is responsible for the cause of at least 20 percent of all residential fires in British Columbia. From 1994 to 1998, 18 deaths (10 percent of all fire deaths) were caused directly by cigarette smoking. In addition, another 26 fire death records showed tobacco abuse during the same period. The majority of these deaths (10 out of 18 deaths) were for those 65 years of age and over. Except for one person aged 19 years, no one under the age of 25 died as a result of fire caused by smoking. |
Figure 6
Age Standardized Rates of Mortality Due to Fires
British Columbia, 1986 to 1998

Table 4
Age Standardized Rates of Mortality Due to Fires
British Columbia, 1986 to 1998
| Male | Female |
| 1986 | 2.8 | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| 1988 | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| 1989 | 2.6 | 1.2 |
| 1990 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| 1991 | 1.9 | 1.1 |
| 1992 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| 1993 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| 1994 | 1.4 | 0.4 |
| 1995 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| 1996 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| 1997 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| 1998 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
Note: ASMR per 10,000 age and gender specific standard population (1991 Canada Census). Non BC residents excluded.
-
The Age Standardized Mortality Rates (ASMRs) for fire deaths showed a relatively steady decline for both males and females (from 2.8 to 1.1 for males and from 1.1 to 0.6 for females) over the period of 1986 to 1998.
- The highest male ASMR occurred in 1986 (2.8) and for females, the highest rate was in 1988 (1.6).
- The lowest ASMR for males was 1.1 for both years of 1996 and 1998. 1994 showed the lowest ASMRs for females at 0.4.
- Males had a much higher ASMR than females in every year during the period of 1986 to 1998.
| Multiple Victim Fires
A study of original death records from 1994 to 1998 showed a number of multiple victim fires. All except one of the fires that resulted in two or more deaths, occurred in private residences. In 1994, three fires in the areas of Prince George, Maple Ridge and Richmond claimed the lives of six individuals (2 people in each fire). 1995 also showed six deaths in the areas of Fruitvale, Alexis Creek and Kelowna (2 people in each fire). Four people died as a result of an explosion in Quesnel in 1997 while another two died in a fire in Chilliwack in the same year. A total of seven individuals lost their lives due to three fires in 1998, which included three deaths in Sicamous , and two deaths each in the areas of Victoria and Langley. |
Figure 7
Accidental Fire Age Standardized Mortality Rates,
Aboriginal and Other BC Population
British Columbia, 1991 to 1998

Table 5
Accidental Fire Age Standardized Mortality Rates,
Aboriginal and Other BC Population
British Columbia, 1991 to 1998
| Status Aboriginal | Other BC Population |
| Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate |
| 1991 | 18 | 1.9 | 25 | 0.1 |
| 1992 | 9 | 1.0 | 35 | 0.1 |
| 1993 | 6 | 0.4 | 31 | 0.1 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0.7 | 24 | 0.1 |
| 1995 | 7 | 1.0 | 28 | 0.1 |
| 1996 | 4 | 0.8 | 27 | 0.1 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0.4 | 25 | 0.1 |
| 1998 | 6 | 0.7 | 28 | 0.1 |
Note: Includes only E8900-E8999 - conflagration in residential homes or public places. Non BC residents excluded.
Source: Analysis of Status Indians in British Columbia, 1991-1998, British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency (to be released June, 2000).
-
There was an overwhelming decline in the Age Standardized Mortality Rates (ASMRs) for fire deaths for the Status Aboriginal population in British
Columbia from 1991 to 1998 (1.9 to 0.7). In fact this decline was responsible for the overall decline of fire deaths in the Province since the rate for the rest of the BC population remained at 0.1 for every year during the same period.
-
The lowest ASMR for the Aboriginal population was 1.0 for both years of 1992 and 1995. The highest ASMR occurred in 1991(1.9).
Table 6
SMRs for Deaths Due to Fires
British Columbia, 1986-1998
|
Local Health Area |
Observed |
Expected |
SMR |
pvalue |
|
01 |
Fernie |
3 |
2.66 |
1.13 |
0.00 |
|
02 |
Cranbrook |
1 |
3.92 |
0.26 |
1.70 |
|
03 |
Kimberley |
1 |
1.58 |
0.63 |
0.01 |
|
04 |
Windermere |
1 |
1.28 |
0.78 |
0.12 |
|
05 |
Creston |
7 |
2.28 |
3.07 |
5.52 |
|
06/07 |
Kootenay Lake/Nelson |
3 |
4.57 |
0.66 |
0.19 |
|
09 |
Castlegar |
2 |
2.20 |
0.91 |
0.10 |
|
10 |
Arrow Lakes |
5 |
0.90 |
5.56 |
7.69 |
|
11 |
Trail |
3 |
3.86 |
0.78 |
0.01 |
|
12/13 |
Grand Forks/Kettle Valley |
2 |
2.15 |
0.93 |
0.12 |
|
14 |
Southern Okanagan |
6 |
3.27 |
1.83 |
1.46 |
|
15 |
Penticton |
8 |
6.91 |
1.16 |
0.08 |
|
16 |
Keremeos |
2 |
0.80 |
2.50 |
0.77 |
|
17 |
Princeton |
- |
0.89 |
- |
- |
|
18 |
Golden |
- |
1.20 |
- |
- |
|
19 |
Revelstoke |
- |
1.48 |
- |
- |
|
20 |
Salmon Arm |
9 |
4.90 |
1.84 |
2.37 |
|
21 |
Armstrong-Spallumcheen |
2 |
1.49 |
1.35 |
0.03 |
|
22 |
Vernon |
9 |
9.23 |
0.97 |
0.02 |
|
23 |
Central Okanagan |
16 |
21.74 |
0.74 |
1.29 |
|
24 |
Kamloops |
14 |
15.25 |
0.92 |
0.02 |
|
25 |
100 Mile House |
6 |
2.25 |
2.66 |
3.65 |
|
26 |
North Thompson |
3 |
0.80 |
3.77 |
2.77 |
|
27 |
Cariboo-Chilcotin |
10 |
4.40 |
2.27 |
4.70 |
|
28 |
Quesnel |
12 |
4.10 |
2.93 |
9.20 |
|
29 |
Lillooet |
3 |
0.80 |
3.74 |
2.74 |
|
30 |
South Cariboo |
4 |
1.26 |
3.18 |
3.07 |
|
31 |
Merritt |
7 |
1.81 |
3.87 |
7.60 |
|
32 |
Hope |
1 |
1.42 |
0.71 |
0.05 |
|
33 |
Chilliwack |
9 |
10.44 |
0.86 |
0.06 |
|
34 |
Abbotsford |
13 |
16.11 |
0.81 |
0.39 |
|
35 |
Langley |
13 |
15.52 |
0.84 |
0.23 |
|
36 |
Surrey |
29 |
47.01 |
0.62 |
7.37 |
|
37 |
Delta |
4 |
15.33 |
0.26 |
10.15 |
|
38 |
Richmond |
16 |
22.59 |
0.71 |
1.72 |
|
40 |
New Westminster |
4 |
8.66 |
0.46 |
2.24 |
|
41 |
Burnaby |
22 |
30.29 |
0.73 |
2.11 |
|
42 |
Maple Ridge |
8 |
10.32 |
0.78 |
0.28 |
|
43 |
Coquitlam |
13 |
24.39 |
0.53 |
5.62 |
|
44 |
North Vancouver |
10 |
20.54 |
0.49 |
5.77 |
|
45 |
West Vancouver-Bowen Island |
2 |
8.87 |
0.23 |
6.02 |
|
46 |
Sunshine Coast |
4 |
4.02 |
1.00 |
0.10 |
|
47 |
Powell River |
11 |
3.53 |
3.12 |
9.22 |
|
48 |
Howe Sound |
1 |
3.47 |
0.29 |
1.20 |
|
49 |
Bella Coola Valley |
1 |
0.49 |
2.03 |
0.09 |
|
50 |
Queen Charlotte |
3 |
0.92 |
3.24 |
2.23 |
|
51 |
Snow Country |
2 |
0.19 |
10.31 |
4.23 |
|
52 |
Prince Rupert |
11 |
3.12 |
3.53 |
10.98 |
|
53 |
Upper Skeena |
4 |
0.87 |
4.61 |
4.96 |
|
54 |
Smithers |
5 |
2.65 |
1.89 |
1.28 |
|
55/93 |
Burns Lake |
1 |
1.23 |
0.81 |
0.16 |
|
56 |
Nechako |
9 |
2.72 |
3.31 |
8.12 |
|
57 |
Prince George |
26 |
15.43 |
1.69 |
5.65 |
|
59 |
Peace River South |
8 |
4.73 |
1.69 |
1.56 |
|
60 |
Peace River North |
7 |
4.27 |
1.64 |
1.17 |
|
61 |
Greater Victoria |
37 |
38.32 |
0.97 |
0.01 |
|
62 |
Sooke |
5 |
7.89 |
0.63 |
0.70 |
|
63 |
Saanich |
4 |
9.85 |
0.41 |
3.42 |
|
64 |
Gulf Islands |
9 |
2.31 |
3.90 |
10.04 |
|
65 |
Cowichan |
10 |
7.77 |
1.29 |
0.43 |
|
66 |
Lake Cowichan |
1 |
0.97 |
1.03 |
0.09 |
|
67 |
Ladysmith |
4 |
2.67 |
1.50 |
0.34 |
|
68 |
Nanaimo |
11 |
13.53 |
0.81 |
0.27 |
|
69 |
Qualicum |
8 |
5.87 |
1.36 |
0.51 |
|
70 |
Alberni |
10 |
5.55 |
1.80 |
2.51 |
|
71 |
Courtenay |
11 |
8.31 |
1.32 |
0.62 |
|
72/84 |
Campbell River/Van. Is. West |
4 |
6.53 |
0.61 |
0.60 |
|
75 |
Mission |
9 |
5.36 |
1.68 |
1.73 |
|
76 |
Agassiz-Harrison |
2 |
1.15 |
1.74 |
0.23 |
|
77 |
Summerland |
1 |
2.02 |
0.49 |
0.06 |
|
78 |
Enderby |
1 |
1.13 |
0.89 |
0.25 |
|
80 |
Kitimat |
13 |
2.07 |
6.29 |
23.65 |
|
81 |
Fort Nelson |
- |
0.86 |
- |
- |
|
83 |
Central Coast |
3 |
0.27 |
11.01 |
7.12 |
|
85 |
Vancouver Island North |
6 |
2.41 |
2.49 |
3.19 |
|
87/94 |
Stikine/Telegraph Creek |
- |
0.40 |
- |
- |
|
88 |
Terrace |
7 |
3.44 |
2.03 |
2.39 |
|
92 |
Nisga'a |
2 |
0.29 |
6.85 |
3.14 |
|
161 |
Vancouver City Centre |
6 |
13.34 |
0.45 |
4.12 |
|
162 |
Vancouver Downtown East Side |
13 |
8.86 |
1.47 |
1.45 |
|
163 |
Vancouver North East |
10 |
14.70 |
0.68 |
1.23 |
|
164 |
Vancouver West Side |
17 |
20.30 |
0.84 |
0.36 |
|
165 |
Vancouver Midtown |
13 |
13.91 |
0.93 |
0.00 |
|
166 |
Vancouver South |
14 |
19.78 |
0.71 |
1.46 |
|
|
Total |
608 |
|
|
|
Note: *SMR - standardized mortality ratio (Observed/Expected). (see glossary)
Cells that are shaded BLUE indicate a statistically significantly high difference between the observed and expected deaths and cells that are shaded GREY indicate a statistically significantly low difference between the observed and expected deaths (p<0.05, two tailed).
+ Based on less than 5 deaths.
Excludes non BC residents.
- Based on Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs), 14 Local Health Areas (LHAs) showed statistically significantly more fire deaths than were expected. These were: Central Coast (11.01)+, Snow Country (10.31)+, Kitimat (6.29), Arrow Lakes (5.56), Upper Skeena (4.96)+, Gulf Islands (3.90), Merrit (3.87), Prince Rupert (3.53), Nechako (3.31), Powell River (3.12), Creston (3.07), Quesnel (2.93), Cariboo-Chilcotin (2.27), and Prince George (1.69).
- The areas that showed statistically significantly fewer deaths than were expected were: West Vancouver-Bowen Island (0.23)+, Delta (0.26)+, Vancouver City Centre (0.45), North Vancouver (0.49), Coquitlam (0.53), and Surrey (0.62).
Map 1
SMRs for Deaths Due to Fires
British Columbia, 1986-1998

Summary and Conclusion
Between 1986 and 1998, 618 individuals lost their lives due to fires in British Columbia. The total number of fire deaths dropped by exactly half (from 44 in 1986 to 22 in 1998) for males and decreased slightly for females during the same period. The majority of fire deaths (over 80 percent) occurred as a result of an accident in the individual's private residence. Suicides comprised over 6 percent of all fire deaths while other causes such as homicides, explosions, outdoor fires and fires in public buildings were altogether responsible for around 10 percent of the fire deaths.
A close study of the death records between 1994 and 1998 (184 deaths) showed that alcohol and cigarette smoking were important factors in relation to fire deaths in British Columbia. Twenty eight percent of all fire death records showed intoxication or a history of alcohol abuse. As for cigarette smoking, 10 percent of all fire death records showed smoking as a direct cause of the fire and the death while an additional 26 death records indicated that the victim was a smoker.
The probability of dying as a result of a fire increased for both males and females aged 60 and over with those aged 85 and over having the highest death rate during the period of the study. Almost all of these individuals died as a result of an accidental fire in their private residence. With much emphasis on fire safety, the number of fire deaths has been reduced dramatically in the last decade and it is possible that this downward trend will continue, as more people become aware of fire safety steps to avoid this most preventable cause of death.
Glossary
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Age Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR):
A summary of age adjusted death rates by gender which have been standardized to a specific population for the purpose of rate comparisons of different time periods or different geographical locations. ASMRs in this report are per 100,000 standard population (1991 Canada Census).
Alcohol-Related:
This category includes all deaths stated as being directly or indirectly related to alcohol. It should be noted that where alcohol is an indirect cause of death (i.e. not primary) and the direct underlying cause of death falls within one of our selected causes (e.g. motor vehicle accidents), then this death may be counted in both columns. That is, not all of "alcohol related" are exclusive. This category includes ICD-9 codes - 291, 303, 305.0, 357.5, 425.5, 535.3, 571.0-571.3, 571.5, 577.1, 648.4, 760.7, E860, 790.3.
Assignment of Health Region:
Cases are assigned to Health Regions by the aggregation of appropriate LHAs.
Assignment of Local Health Area (LHA):
Allocation of LHA, in the case of births and deaths is based upon the usual residence (by postal code) of the mother and deceased respectively. Marriages are assigned to LHAs according to the place of event. Community name, is used in the absence of postal code.
Elderly Gravida:
Any mother who was 35 years of age or older at the time of delivery of a live born infant.
External Causes of Death:
Deaths due to environmental events, circumstances and conditions as the cause of injury, poisoning, and other adverse effects. Broad categories include accidents, suicide, medical or abnormal reactions, homicide, legal intervention, misadventures and injury from war operations. Standard tables under this heading include deaths due to accidents, suicide, homicide and other. Accidents are subdivided by the following categories; motor vehicle accidents (MVA) (ICD-9 E810-E825, E929.0), poisoning (E850-E869, E929.2), falls (E880-E888, E929.3), burns/fire (E890-E899, E924, E929.4), drowning (E830, E832, E910), other accidents - all codes from E800-E949 not already noted. Suicide ICD-9 codes are E950-E959; homicide (E960-E969); "other" consists of legal intervention (E970-E978), undetermined if accidental or purposely inflicted (E980-E989) and war operations (E990-E999).
Heart Disease:
Tables under this heading include deaths due to:
- rheumatic/valvular: 391-398, 424
- hypertension: 401-405
- ischemic: 410-414, 429.2
- conductive & dysrythmic: 426-427
- heart failure: 428
- congenital: 745-746
- other: pulmonary - 415-417, inflammatory - 420-423, 429.0, cardiomyopathy - 425, 429.3,
degenerative - 429.1, other, ill-defined or unspecified - 429.4-429.9
ICD-9:
The ninth revision of International Classification of Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1977. An internationally used system of approximately 12,000 four digit numbers representing a system of categories to which morbid entities are assigned according to an established criteria. ICD provides a common basis of disease and injury classification that facilitates storage, retrieval, and tabulation of statistical data.
Infant Deaths:
Deaths of children under one year of age.
Low Birth Weight:
Any liveborn infant weighing less than 2500 grams.
Neoplasms (ICD-9 140-239):
Although the vast majority of deaths in this category are due to malignant cancer, also included are benign, in-situ, and unspecified "tumours". Detailed ICD-9 breakdown used in "Neoplasm Deaths" tables are;
- lung: includes trachea, bronchus, lung (162) and pleura (163).
- female breast: (174).
- colorectal: includes colon (153) and rectum, rectosigmoid junction and anus (154).
- other G.I. (Gastrointestinal): includes esophagus (150), stomach (151), small intestine and duodenum (152), liver & intrahepatic bile ducts (155), gallbladder and extra-hepatic ducts(156), pancreas (157), peritoneum (158), other and ill-defined within digestive organs (159).
- female reproductive: includes uterus (179), cervix (180, 182), placenta (181), ovary and adnexa (183), vagina & external genitalia (184).
- prostate (185).
- blood lymph: includes lymphatic and haematopoietic tissue (eg. lymphomas and leukemias, 200-208).
- other malignancy: includes malignant neoplasms of other (e.g. lip,
oral cavity, pharynx, nose, ear, larynx, heart, bone and connective tissue, urinary tract, eye, brain, endocrine glands), ill-defined or unspecified sites (140-149, 160, 161, 164, 165, 170-173, 175, 186-199).
- non-malignant & unspecified: includes benign (210-229), in-situ (230-234), and neoplasms of unspecified nature (e.g. "tumor" - 239).
Other Selected Death Statistics:
Tables under this heading include deaths due to:
- diabetes (250).
- alcohol related - see above.
- AIDS: includes AIDS and HIV infections (042-044).
- other infectious diseases (0010 to 0419, 0450-1398).
- cerebro and other vascular: includes cerebrovascular disease (430-438), disease of arteries and veins (440-456),
hypotension (458), and other circulatory system disease (459).
- liver disease: (570-573).
- ALS/MS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis (3352 & 340).
- Alzheimer's disease (3310).
- Parkinson's disease (3320).
Premature/Pre-term:
Any live born infant less than 37 weeks gestation at delivery.
Respiratory Disease Death Statistics:
Tables under this heading include deaths due to the following:
- emphysema (492).
- COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (496).
- pneumonia (480-486).
- influenza (4870-4879).
- asthma (4930-4939).
- lung disease due to external agents, e.g. aspiration pneumonia, asbestosis, silicosis (500-5089).
- pulmonary fibrosis (515).
- other respiratory diseases (460-4789, 490-4919, 494-4959, 5100-514, 5160-5199).
Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR):
The ratio of the number of deaths occurring to residents of a geographic area (e.g. LHA) to the expected number of deaths in that area based on provincial age specific mortality rates.
Stillbirth:
The complete expulsion or extraction from its mother after at least 20 weeks of pregnancy or after attaining a weight of at least 500 grams, of a product of conception in which, after expulsion or extraction, there is no breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or unmistakable movement of voluntary muscle.
Teenage Mother:
Any mother who was age 19 or less at the time of delivery.
UCOD:
Underlying cause of death - based upon application of standard international coding rules for determining sequential relationships of conditions and diseases from immediate cause backwards to underlying cause.
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Contributors' Note:
The editorial staff would like to invite any readers who wish to contribute an article or paper summary for publication in this Quarterly Digest to contact the Information and Resource Management Branch of the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. Articles should focus on health status issues in British Columbia. It is preferable that submissions be in "electronic media" format (e.g. Word, Word Perfect, Excel, Power Point, Corel, Pagemaker, etc.). Article presentation will be subject to space allowances and publishing deadlines.
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