- Author
- Kassabian, A.
- Title
- Sauna Fires, 225 Major MacKenzie Drive, Richmond Hill, Ontario, 13 April 1990 and 7805 Bayview Avenue, Markham, Ontario, 12 July 1990. Fire Investigation Report.
- Coporate
- Office of the Fire Marshall, Canada
- Report
- Fire Investigation Report, November 28, 1991, 28 p.
- Keywords
- fire investigations | explosions | apartments | electric heaters | wood | thermogravimetric analysis
- Identifiers
- sauna
- Abstract
- A sauna room fire and the subsequent explosion in the adjoining one bedroom apartment in a condominium building complex occurred on April 13, 1990 at approximately 3:30 a.m. The apartment building complex was located at 225 Major MacKenzie Drive in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The incident was initiated by the excessive heat generated by the electric sauna heater. The rapid pyrolysis of the cedar wood for the sauna room enclosure caused the ignition. All regulating and safety devices to prevent runaway temperature condition of the electric heater were either bypassed or rendered to be inoperative. Within a period of less than three months almost an identical incident occurred on July 12, 1990 at approximately 8:15 a.m. in another condominium apartment complex at 7805 Bayview Avenue in Markham, Ontario. The effect of heat on cedar wood to decompose or pyrolyze it in a short time frame was studied during the investigation conducted by the Ontario Fire Marshals Office with specific reference to these two fires. As well as discussing the specific fire incidents this report will highlight the use of Thermogravimetric Analysis as an advanced scientific method for assisting with fire investigations.