Investigators Determine Cause of Richmond Hotel Fire
26 September 2005
Richmond Fire Rescue has concluded that the recent fire at the Richmond Hotel was caused accidentally.
Investigators determined that a number of loose packing materials including cardboard, foam, synthetic fabric and plastic wrap had been temporarily stored in a covered area where the hotel’s north tower adjoins its two-level courtyard area. This area had halogen floodlights installed at ground level. The lights were controlled by an electric photocell which turned the lights on automatically at night.
Richmond Fire Rescue investigators have concluded that the fire started when the combustible packaging material was ignited by conducted heat when the lights came on automatically in the evening. The fire spread through the packaging material, eventually penetrating into the second floor through the unprotected glazing in that corner of the hotel.
While the cause of the fire has been determined, Richmond Fire Rescue is continuing to investigate the performance of fire protection systems, including alarms and other building construction features.
On Monday, Mayor Malcolm Brodie will bring forward a motion at Richmond Council asking City staff to look into the issue of hotel fire safety sprinklers and to meet with provincial hotel industry and others to examine options for improving safety measures for local hotel guests. The BC Building Code requires all new hotels to have sprinklers. However, some older hotels, including the Richmond Hotel, are exempt from that requirement as their construction predates the Code revision. The City of Vancouver has adopted a bylaw requiring most hotels to have sprinklers.
