By CHRIS LLOYD

An extensive investi- gation into the cause of Tuesday’s $30,000 fire which came close to

destroying a North ‘Vancouver a building has led a

District fire inspector to a unique theory as to how the blaze started.

After eliminating all other possibilities, Inspector Jack Hastings feels there can only have been one cause — the cat.

The occupant of the lower apartment at 1259 Emory Place was adamant that he had left his hairdryer on top of the bookcase. Yet, when Hastings checked the burned out suite the dryer was across the room, lying on the floor.

In front of it was a heavy burn mark on the carpet and a burn line leading to an armchair. Hastings also found a cat that had died in the fire.

The inspector is satisfied that from all the signs there is only one way the fire could have started:

The hairdryer had been left turned off with the plug still in the wall socket. While the occupant was out the cat must have started playing with the hairdryer cord, pulling the dryer off the bookcase, with the result that it turned on as it crashed to the ground.

Hastings concludes that sparks from the dryer set light .to the carpet and the dryer fanned the fire across the room to the chair which was directly in line.

After the chair caught light, the fire spread to the entire apartment.

The occupant, a = non- smoker who doesnt hke people smoking in his place, smelled the smoke. ran down to his apartment, booted in the door and saw the flames spreading to the curtains.

He roused another oc- cupant who was also aslecp in the downstairs areca and

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while making his way out of the apartment this man dumped a bucketload of water on the fire. He then refilled the bucket and was just about to throw a third bucketful when the blaze flared up in front of him and he ran for the door.

When North Vancouver District firefighters arrived they kicked open the door on the basement landing and flames roared up the side of the complex to beyond the roof level.

Inspector Hastings told the News: “The fire was a spectacular save by the fire- fighters, which prevented it from spreading any further. It was a magnificent save.”

As it happened, none of the occupants of the complex had insurance to cover their destroyed contents.

Hastings decided there was only one thing. still needed to confirm his theory as to how the fire had Started.

An autopsy of the dead cat, he felt would tell all. If it showed the cat had died from smoke inhalation it was unlikely it had anything to do with it. If it had died from electrocution then it had probably bitten through an electric cord and caused a short which started the fire and if it had died from burns it seemed most likely the animal had died from the fire presumed to have started by the hairdryer.

But when he went back to the apartment shortly after the fire the evidence had disappeared. Someone had put the dead cat outside with the garbage and meanwhile the municipal garbage collectors had emptied the load into their truck and driven off. -

However, Hastings | still feels just about certain that his theory is the only way to

account for the fire.

Fight the lung cripplers

Emphysema, Asthma, Tuberculosis, Chronic Bronchitis. Alr Pollution

Use Christmas Seals °

A3 - Sunday News, November 29, 1980

ALSS INSIDE

SARS

Different :

EARLY SANTA is one of séveral that have been spr- inging up on the North Shore. On this occasion Santa was visiting Park Royal’s Gallery West, much to the delight of the Little guy pictured with him

about Christmas morning. (Ellsworth Dickson photo)

ad correction:

EUROPEAN HEALTH SPA

ad for European Health Spa Nov. 26 should have read.

Special Open House Sunday, Nov. 30th, 1980 at the Plaza International Hotel.

is

Not in his apartment PAGE C7

Dhessing up the delights of Holiday

Dresses are: just right for that office bash. Special outfits for holiday din- ners, disco and family affairs.

Feminella

9.B Westlynn Mall , North Vancouver 202 Lansdowne Park

Tips for travellers PAGE C10

Automotive Classified

985-7615

B14 A25

Community Roundup A116

Entertainment 810

Richmond Food crs Hayden Stewart font)

CHARGRN Malibon aT Sports a1

VISA Travel c10 TV Time ci?

What's Going On 612