London Fire Department Annual Report (1966)
Chief of Department: M.C. Mathers
Digitized summary and transcription for web publishing.
1966 Highlights
- Total fire loss (1966): $704,754.00
- Fire loss per capita: $3.67
- Fire loss per $1,000 assessment: $5.78
- Deaths from fire: 4
- Total alarms (1966): 2,238 (increase of 347 over 1965)
- Major fires noted: Young Canada Department Store ($260,000) and Biltmore Bowling Alley ($100,750)
Fire Chief’s Message (Excerpt)
Chief M.C. Mathers submitted the annual report for the London Fire Department for the year ending
December 31, 1966. The report includes departmental operations, statistics, and outcomes for the year.
The Chief expressed appreciation to the members of the Board of Control, City Council, Civic Department Heads,
and the news media for co-operation and assistance received during 1966, and thanked all members of the
City of London Fire Department for a job well done.
Staffing, Sickness, Injuries, and Hiring
Senior Officers (as listed)
- Platoon Chiefs:
- A Platoon — H.E. Walters
- B Platoon — A.W. Brown
- C Platoon — N.R. Wright
- D Platoon — S.W. Smith
- District Chiefs:
- A Platoon — F.L. Miller
- B Platoon — F.J. Tombling
- C Platoon — G.W. Thompson
- D Platoon — C.A. Foley
Services (as listed)
- Chief Training Instructor — R.C. Morley
- Master Mechanic — O.A. George
- Fire Prevention Officer — J.A. Snedden
- Electrician (Communications) — J. Nackonezny
- Clerk — H.F. Ramage
Workforce Summary
- Total personnel: 253
- Days lost through sickness: 885½
- Average sick time (per person): 3.98 days
- Days lost through injuries: 89
Separations and Hirings
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Retirements | 1 |
| Death | 1 |
| Resignations | 6 |
| Hirings (Replacement) | 8 |
| Hirings (Additional) | 31 (to implement the 42-hour work week) |
Alarms and Alarm Transmission (1966)
Total Alarms
Total alarms in 1966: 2,238 (increase of 347 over 1965)
Methods of Alarm Transmission
| Method | Count |
|---|---|
| Telephone alarms | 2,014 |
| Street alarm boxes | 107 |
| Verbal alarms | 53 |
| Dominion Protective alarms | 29 |
| Radio alarms | 35 |
| Total | 2,238 |
False Alarms
Total false alarms (1966): 240
Fire Loss Snapshot and Ten-Year Record
1966 Fire Loss
- Total fire loss: $704,754.00
- Fire loss per capita: $3.67
- Fire loss per $1,000 assessment: $5.78
- Deaths from fire: 4
Ten-Year Fire Loss Record (1957–1966)
The report includes a ten-year fire loss record showing losses on buildings and contents, alongside the
value of property and contents involved.
Five-Year Averages (as listed)
- Buildings: $360,661.60
- Contents: $311,915.69
Major Fires Noted (Selected List)
The report includes a list of notable fires with dates, locations, and values involved.
| Date (1966) | Incident / Location | Loss (as listed) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct | Young Canada Department Store, 389 Richmond St | $266,000 |
| 23 Dec | Biltmore Bowling Alley, 789 Dundas St | $100,750 |
| 2 Dec | French Dry Cleaners, 10 Wellington Rd | $35,000 |
| 30 Nov | Vacant dwelling, 548 Talbot St | $15,000 |
Note: This is a selected subset transcribed from the visible list; additional entries appear in the report.
Operations: Time Worked
- Total company hours (combined): 1,177 hours 14 minutes
- Total man hours (breakdown): 9,971 hours 50 minutes
Apparatus: Mileage Travelled (Selected)
| Unit | Type | Mileage |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 8 | Rescue | 4,092.0 miles |
| Unit 12 | Pump | 1,086.9 miles |
| Unit 21 | Aerial | 694.6 miles |
Note: Additional unit mileage entries appear in the report.
