Author Archive | Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research

Fires that Commence on Balconies of Multi-Residential Buildings: Analysis of the National Fire Incident Database

The purpose of this study was to examine the significance of fires that occur on the exterior of multi- residential buildings. This research was motivated by the findings from previous work, that suggested there are existing vulnerabilities associated with fires that commence in external, recreational areas such as balconies and patios (6).

Structure Fires in British Columbia: Exploring Variations in Outcomes as a Function of Building Height and Life Safety Systems

This report examines structure fires in British Columbia (BC) that occurred over a thirteen year period to explore variations in outcomes as a function of building height and life safety systems. The study outlines the data definitions that were used to identify the relevant subset of fires that occurred in the province during this time […]

Predicting Illicit Opiate Drug Overdoses in the City of Surrey Impacts of Opioid use in Neighbourhoods

This study examines the spatial and temporal distribution of the incidence of overdoses and deaths attributable to opioid abuse within the City of Surrey from 2016 to 2018. As the general epidemiological literature reports, the distribution of overdose incidents and deaths is neither random in space nor time. Spatially, these incidents tend to cluster around […]

Opioid Intervention Strategies in Surrey, British Columbia: An Evaluation of the Trends and Treatments

In the past few years, the Province of British Columbia has experienced a substantial increase in the number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths. In absolute numbers, illicit drug overdose deaths related to opioid use increased from 294 in 2010 to 1,489 in 2018. Much of this appears due to the introduction of synthetic narcotics such […]

Fires in Canada Originating from Smoking Materials Analysis of Canadian Fire Incidents

Research over time indicates that smoking materials continue to be a leading cause of residential fires in Canada. With newer data available through the NFID and provincial annual fire reports, this study intends to provide a more recent picture of fire risks related to smoking – including the potential impact of increased e-cigarette use in […]

Fire Protection System(s) Performance in the Residential Building Environment: Examining the Relationship between Civilian and Firefighter Injuries: A Retrospective Evaluation of Residential and Residential Apartment Fires, 2005 to 2015

This paper summarizes the findings from an analysis of the fire protection performance of sprinkler systems and smoke alarms in residential and multi-level residential buildings in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick between 2005 and 2015 inclusive. The primary focus is on the relationship between the presence of protective […]

The Influence of Electrical Fires in Residential Homes: Geospatial Analysis Pointing to Vulnerable Locations and Equipment Failures

Secondary suites are becoming more common as a way to relieve the burden of rising housing prices in British Columbia and basements are often converted for this purpose. However, home owners often circumvent the permission and inspection requirements for these conversions in order to save on expensive upgrades for compliance. As a result, there are […]

Supporting Children with Incarcerated Parents

This guide is designed to help your community take a leadership role in supporting your most at-risk children to experience more stable childhoods, meet their developmental milestones, and build the skills they need to enjoy brighter futures as active members of society. In Canada, children who experience parental incarceration are statistically more likely than any […]

Enhancing the Protective Environment for Children of Parents in Conflict with the Law or Incarcerated: A Framework for Action

We offer the present framework to help communities and local organizations in contact with children of parents in conflict with the law cooperate with each other and develop a coherent approach to protecting and supporting these children, especially when their parents are imprisoned. Together, they can strengthen the protective environment around these children and help […]