Homes & Building Fires SERIES: FIRE Fire Investigation … · The SCDF Fire Investigation Report. SCOPE-Fire Statistics (2006 –2010)-Common Fire Causes-SCDF Fire Report and ...

Joint NFEC-GIA Fire Seminar 2011E

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

Major Lim Beng HuiB.Eng (Civil)(Hons), M.Sc (FI)(Dist), CFEI, CFII (NAFI)

Commander | Fire Research and Scientific Unit | Fire Safety and Shelter Department

concurrent Commander | Fire Investigation Unit | Operations Department

Recent Trends in

Homes & Building Fires

&

The SCDF

Fire Investigation Report

SCOPE

- Fire Statistics (2006 – 2010)

- Common Fire Causes

-SCDF Fire Report and

Fire Investigation Report

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

4702 47964973

5236

4600

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

FIRE STATISTICS

Year

No

. of

Fir

esTotal no. of Fires Responded to by SCDF

▲ 263 cases

▲ 5.3%

▲ 177 cases

▲ 3.7%

▲ 94 cases

▲ 2.0%

▼ 636 cases

▼ 12.1%

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

• Decrease of 636 cases (12.1%) from

2009

• Lowest number since 2004

• Attributed to greater awareness on fire

safety and concerted public education

efforts

FIRE STATISTICS

Total no. of Fires Responded to by SCDF

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

311 319 317331

309

152 152 158140

160

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Commercial Industrial

FIRE STATISTICS

Commercial & Industrial FiresN

o. of

Fir

es

Year

▲ 14 cases

▲ 4.4%▲ 8 cases

▲ 2.6% ▼ 22 cases

▼ 6.6%

▼ 2 cases

▼ 0.6%

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

▲ 6 cases

▲ 4.0% ▼ 18 cases

▼ 11.4%

▲ 20 cases

▲ 14.3%

• 309 fires within commercial premises in

2010

- Decrease of 22 cases (331 in 2009)

- Lowest no. over the past 5 years

• 160 fires within industrial premises in

2010

- Increase of 20 cases (140 in 2009)

- Highest no. over the 5-year period

FIRE STATISTICS

Commercial & Industrial Fires

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

2957

32133385

3549

3267

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

FIRE STATISTICS

Residential FiresN

o. of

Fir

es

Year

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

▲ 164 cases

▲4.8%

▲ 256 cases

▲ 8.7%

▼ 282 cases

▼ 7.9%

▲ 172 cases

▲ 5.4%

• Make up the bulk of the reported fires

in Singapore

• 3267 fires within residential premises in

2010

- Decrease of 282 cases (3549 in 2009)

• First sign of a downward trend?

FIRE STATISTICS

Fires in Residential Premises

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Minor Moderate Extensive

2008 2009 2010

No

. of

Fir

es

Extent of Damage

FIRE STATISTICS

Fires in Commercial Premises

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

• Most of the fires resulted in minor fire

damage

• This may be attributed to

- Effective fire protection systems

- Effective response by premises

- Good housekeeping measures

FIRE STATISTICS

Fires in Commercial Premises

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160


2008 2009 2010

No

. of

Fir

es

Extent of Damage

FIRE STATISTICS

Fires in Industrial Premises

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

• Most fires resulted in minor fire damage

• Larger proportion of fires which result

in moderate damage as compared to

fires within commercial premises

• May be attributed to the nature of work

in industrial premises

Fires in Industrial Premises

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000


2008 2009 2010

No

. of

Fir

es

Extent of Damage

FIRE STATISTICS


ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

• Over 97% of the fires resulted in only

minor fire damage

• This may be attributed to

- High fire safety standards

- Public spiritedness

- Swift emergency response

FIRE STATISTICS


ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

6

12

15

18

16

0

2

0 0 00

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Injuries Fatalities

FIRE STATISTICS

Year

No

. o

f In

juri

es/F

ata

liti

es

Fire Injuries & Fatalities in

Commercial Fires

▲ 3 cases

▲ 6 cases

▼ 2 cases▲ 3 cases

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

• 2010 saw the 1st drop in the number of

persons sustaining injuries since 2006

• 16 persons sustained injuries during

fires last year

• No fatalities for the 3rd consecutive

year


Commercial Fires

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

6

16

28

12

27

12

0 0 00

5

10

15

20

25

30

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Injuries Fatalities


Industrial Fires

FIRE STATISTICS

Year

No

. of

Inju

ries

/Fa

tali

ties

▲ 12 cases

▲ 10 cases

▼ 16 cases

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

▲ 15 cases

FIRE STATISTICSFire Injuries & Fatalities in

Industrial Fires

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

• 27 persons sustaining injuries in 2010

• Increase of 15 persons (12 persons

injured in 2009)

• No fatalities for the 3rd consecutive

year

66

50

73

83

95

1 0 0 0 00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Injuries Fatalities

FIRE STATISTICS

Year

No

. o

f In

juri

es/F

ata

liti

es


Residential Fires

▲ 23 cases

▲ 12 cases

▼ 16 cases

▲ 10 cases

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

• 95 persons sustained injuries during

fires last year

• Seemingly on a upward trend

• No fatalities for the 4th consecutive

year


Residential Fires

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Dropped Light

Overheating of Food

Electrical Origin

Naked Light Incendiary Others

2007 2008 2009 2010

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes of Fires in Singapore

Causes

No

. of

Fir

es

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes of Fires in Singapore

• „Dropped Light‟ is the No. 1 cause of

fires in Singapore

- Significant drop in „dropped light‟

fires in 2010

• „Overheating of Food‟ and fires of

„Electrical Origin‟ are the next 2 top

causes of firesED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2008 2009 2010

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes

No

. of

Fir

esCauses of Fires in Commercial Premises

#1

#2#3

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes of Fires in Commercial Premises

• „Electrical Origin‟ is the #1 cause

- Cause of 36% of all fires within

commercial premises from 2008 - 2010

• „Overheating of Food‟ ~ 15%

• „Dropped Light‟ ~ 14%

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2008 2009 2010

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes of Fires in Industrial PremisesN

o. of

Fir

es

#1

#2

#3

Causes

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes of Fires in Industrial Premises

• „Electrical Origin‟ is also the #1 cause

- Cause for approx. 26% of all fires

within industrial premises from

2008 - 2010

• „Dropped Light‟ ~ 18%

• „Overheating of Machinery‟ ~ 12%ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2008 2009 2010

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes

No

. of

Fir

esCauses of Fires in Residential Premises

#1

#2

#3

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

FIRE STATISTICS

Causes of Fires in Residential Premises

• „Dropped light‟ is the #1 cause.

- Cause for approx. 52% of all fires

within residential premises from

2008 - 2010

• „Overheating of Food‟ ~ 15%

• „Electrical Origin‟ ~ 6%ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

„Electrical Origin‟

„Dropped Light‟

„Overheating of Food‟

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

• Ignition source arising from

the failure of an electrically-

energized component

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Short Circuits

• Bypass the normal loading

• Low/negligible resistance

=> High current

• Overloading causes intense

local heating

• May ignite flammable

materials present

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Insulation Failure

• Deteriorate with age;

degraded by heat/chemicals

• Exposed wires more prone

to damage and may ignite

nearby combustibles

• Excess current protection

devices may not prove

effective

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Overloading

• Current exceeds full load

rated value

• Temperatures in conductors

will rise

• May ignite the conductors

or nearby combustibles

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Local Resistances

• Arising from corroded

joints, poor/loose

connections

• Heat generated as a result

of high resistance

• May ignite combustibles

which are in contact

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Improper Connections

• May lead to short circuits or

local resistance

• Heat generated as a result of

high resistance

• May ignite combustibles which

are in contact

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

•Case in Tanglin Halt

Owner saw ceiling fan on fire

Fan fell and ignited the bed mattress

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

•Case in Tanglin Halt

Improper connection of wires

Bangladeshi worker installed the fan

Not a Licensed Electrical Worker

(LEW)

Offence to knowingly engage non

LEWs under the Electricity Act

Chap. (89A) Sect (82)(1)

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

Check:

Condition of wirings & electrical products

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

Check:

Overloading is not present

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

Check:

Off the main wall switch when not in use

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

Check:

Licensed Electrical Workers are used

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN

Check:





Check:





ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

• Smouldering embers from

cigarette butts, incense papers,

joss sticks, mosquito coils,

charcoal, etc.

DROPPED LIGHT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

DROPPED LIGHT

•Embers not fully

extinguished

•Indiscriminate disposal

of embers / unwanted

items

•May smoulder for a

long time before ignition ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

DROPPED LIGHT

•Case in Sungei Kadut

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

DROPPED LIGHT

•Case in Sungei Kadut

Disposal of incense „ashes‟ in dumpster

Strong winds

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

Remember:

Extinguish Completely,

Dispose Properly.

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

DROPPED LIGHT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Remember:


Dispose Properly.

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

DROPPED LIGHT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

• Excessive heat being supplied

to the cooking utensil or

device; resulting in the ignition

of its contents

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Taboo #1 -

Unattended Cooking

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

480

63

Unattended Cooking Others

At least 88% of the

543 cases in 2010

were caused by

unattended cooking!

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Taboo #2 –

Reuse of oil without discretion

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

Reference: Babrauskas, V. (2003) Ignition Handbook, USA, Fire

Science, pp.886-888.

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

•Case in Senoko

Cooking oil in deep fryer ignited

Damaged machine & exhaust ducts

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

•Case in Senoko

No change in operating temperature

Mixture of fresh and reused oils

Proportion of oils not fixed

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Taboo #3 -

Accumulation of grease & oils

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

Kitchen hood suddenly caught fire

during cooking activities

May not be the ignition fuel at times

But provides the fuel for rapid fire

spread!

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

Taboo #4 -

Incorrect method of extinguishing

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

OVERHEATING (FOOD)

Disturbs the surface of the oil,

causes splattering & spreading

O2

O2O2

O2

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

NEVER:• Leave cooking unattended

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

88%

12%

Unattended Cooking Others

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

NEVER:

• Indiscreetly reuse cooking oil

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

NEVER:

• Allow grease to build up

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

NEVER:

• Operate any extinguishers or

pour anything into the burning

utensil to put out the fire

Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSESE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E







Fire Safety Tips

COMMON FIRE CAUSES







Mai LIAO, buay liao!

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORTE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORTE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

- A record of the fire incident

- States the

• Location

• Date & Time

• Most probable cause of fire

• Brief description of damage

• Info on injuries or fatalities, if any

- Cost: $50

SCDF FIRE REPORT

- Can be applied online at

www.scdf.gov.sg (E-services)

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

http://www.scdf.gov.sg/

SCDF FIRE REPORT

- Under Fire / Ambulance Reports

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORT

- Click “Apply”

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORT

- Click “Proceed”

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORT

- Fill in the application form…

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORT

- Click „Continue‟

- Click „Accept‟ (Terms and

Conditions)

- Review your application form

and click „submit‟

- Make payment

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

SCDF FIRE REPORTE

DU

CA

TIO

N S

EM

INA

R S

ER

IES

:

FIR

E

- Receive the report within

10 working days

(provided investigations

have been completed)

- For archived cases,

3 working days.

FIRE INVESTIGATION

REPORT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

- Detailed report which gives

additional info on the

investigation

- Comes with supporting

photographs

FIRE INVESTIGATION

REPORT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

- Interpretation of fire patterns

Explains

how the

origin of

the fire was

determined

FIRE INVESTIGATION

REPORT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

- Documentation of facts/evidence

Explains

how the

most

probable

cause was

established

FIRE INVESTIGATION

REPORT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

- Cost of report depends on scale

of investigation

• S$1815, S$855 or S$350

- Write in to apply but subject to

approval

(Attn: Fire Investigation Unit)

FIRE INVESTIGATION

REPORT

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

- In general, reports for cases

which were handed over to Police

for further investigation cannot

be released

• Incendiary fires

• Involving fatalities

CONCLUSION

• Fire Statistics for Singapore

2006 – 2010

• Top 3 common fire causes:

„Electrical Origin‟

„Dropped Light

„Overheating of Food‟

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

CONCLUSION

• Fire Safety Tips:

„Electrical Origin’

Check:





ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

CONCLUSION


„Dropped Light’

Remember:


Dispose Properly.

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

CONCLUSION


„Overheating of Food’

NEVER:Leave cooking unattended

Indiscreetly reuse cooking oil

Allow grease to build up

Operate any extinguishers or pour

anything into the burning utensil to

put out the fire

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

CONCLUSION

• SCDF Fire Report

• SCDF Fire Investigation Report

• Application Procedures

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

CONCLUSION

• Fire insurance is important!

• Fire safety is even more important!

• Fire destroys and fires can kill.

WE ALL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE!

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Thank you.

ED

UC

AT

ION

SE

MIN

AR

SE

RIE

S:

FIR

E

Joint NFEC-GIA Fire Seminar 2011

Homes & Building Fires SERIES: FIRE Fire Investigation … · The SCDF Fire Investigation Report. SCOPE-Fire Statistics (2006 –2010)-Common Fire Causes-SCDF Fire Report and ...

Documents