- Author
- Kassabian, A.
- Title
- Electrical Baseboard Heaters. Fire Investigation Report.
- Coporate
- Office of the Fire Marshall, Canada
- Report
- Fire Investigation Report, March 31, 1993, 27 p.
- Keywords
- fire investigations | electric heaters | fire fatalities | bedding
- Abstract
- A house fire in Stratford, Ontario on December 29, 1991 claimed the life of a prominent Canadian Stage Actress Susan Wright. Her parents John and Ruth Wright also died in the fire. An investigation conducted by the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal concluded that the most probable cause for this fire was an improperly installed electric baseboard heater which was in close proximity to combustible bedding material of a small bed (i.e., a fold up cot). The bed was temporarily placed next to the heater while her parents were visting during Christmas Holidays. Most electric baseboard heaters because of safety design features appear to be unstable in the proper orientation prior to installation. Therefore it is quite conceivable to install a baseboard heater in the inverted position if installation instructions are ignored. The heater will still operate however; it will become a potential fire hazard. The effect and the consequences of operating an inverted baseboard heater was studied at CSA (Canadian Standards Association) laboratories. The results are compiled in this report in an attempt to reconstruct the chain of events leading to the fatal fire.