Deputy chief coroner speaks to volunteer firefighters

Posted By LISA GERVAIS, THE LINDSAY POST

There were smoke alarms in 82% of fatal fires involving children, but that figure plummeted to only 50% functioning, Ontario's deputy chief coroner in charge of investigations for the province, Dr. Bert Lauwers preached to the converted at the Kirkfield fire station on Tuesday night.

Lauwers lives in Kirkfield, where he is a neighbour of fire chief Ken Summers, and was lured by the offer of free hot dogs and free snow ploughing to speak to firefighters.

He said that in many cases a landlord complies with fire regulations and has functioning smoke alarms in his or her rental but the tenant takes the batteries out to use in something else or to silence the alarm because it goes off for routine reasons, such as someone burning toast.

That decision costs lives, he said.

He discussed a case that the

coroner's office investigated in which a child started a fire with one of his parents' lighters that resulted in the death of the father and two children.

He said the investigation revealed that there had been recent fire setting history by both children and that is something that parents and child welfare agencies cannot ignore.

Lauwers said local firefighters must also be vigilant about seniors' housing springing up in municipalities to service our aging population: ensuring they conduct a simplified risk assessment; implement a smoke alarm program; distribute public education programs and conduct fire prevention inspections upon request.

He said the public also has an important role to play. He said they must call firefighters if they think there is a compliancy problem in a home so that firefighters can conduct an investigation.

Lauwers said the motto of the coroner's office is "we speak for the dead to protect the living."

They investigate deaths to look for systemic problems and make recommendations -sometimes through a coroner's inquest -in the hopes of eliminating these problems.

They investigate 18,000 deaths a year and do 7,000 autopsies.

They come when a death is sudden or unexpected or under circumstances which may require investigation.

They are entrusted with formidable powers, which they can utilize to seize bodies and items or enter locales where bodies are or have been to advance a death investigation.

Decomposed bodies are identified by tattoos, dental x-rays (which are most common), prosthetics or pins, x-rays of sinus, which are like fingerprints, fingerprints, and the most expensive, DNA.

Lauwers still does emergency room work at Ross Memorial Hospital. He started out as a medical practitioner.