PROPERTY OWNER HIT WITH $4,000 FINE FOR FIRE CODE VIOLATION

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO STRUCTURE FIRE AT RESIDENCE IN 2021

An expired smoke alarm proved costly for a Port Colborne property owner hit with a $4,000 fine, plus court costs, for failing to comply with the Ontario Fire Code.

A release from the City of Port Colborne said the owner of 85 St. Arnaud St. was convicted in provincial offences court on Jan. 12 under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act.

Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services responded to the house on Dec. 17, 2021, for a reported structure fire in the fourunit building.

Firefighters found a blaze in a ground-floor unit of the structure.

Residents in a unit above were evacuated as firefighters went inside to extinguish the fire.

Smoke from the fire migrated through the other units and all told, the blaze caused between $75,000 and $100,000 in damage, fire Chief Scott Lawson said at the time.

During a fire investigation and building inspection, a smoke alarm violation was observed, said the release.

It said fire personnel installed a required smoke alarm, and the building owner was charged with failing to replace it within the time-frame indicated in the manufacturer's instructions.

"I hope this conviction serves as a reminder to all residents and owners of buildings in Port Colborne

of their responsibilities under the fire code. Unsecure buildings create a risk to our community.

Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives," said Lawson in the release.

He said the fire service will continue to enforce the fire code and that its incumbent property owners ensure their properties always remain in compliance.

The release said it ensures the safety of occupants and emergency personnel who may need to respond to the location.

Working smoke alarms are mandatory under the law and any residence with a fire fuel appliance or attached garage requires a working carbon monoxide alarm. Failing to meet these requirements could result in fines of up to $50,000 per count.

Mayor Bill Steele, too, stressed the importance of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes and businesses in the city.

Property owners that require assistance ensuring alarms are working or determining if their buildings are compliant are encouraged to call the fire service at 905-834-4512.