Welland property owners under fire for non-compliance of inspection orders
Three property owners were handed hefty fines and a fourth was put on probation for 12 months after being found in non-compliance with the Ontario Fire Code.
The prosecutions — following investigations by Welland Fire and Emergency Services — were outlined in a news release issued Thursday by the City of Welland.
At 43 Shotwell St., the fire department attended the building in June in response to a complaint and found several exit doors at a rooming house had been screwed shut.
Due to the seriousness of the of
fence, the fire department initiated a case against the property owners. On Sept. 10, the landlord was convicted in provincial offences court of contravening the rules and fined $2,500, plus victim surcharge and court costs.
Last year, the fire department was involved in extensive fire safety inspections at 53 Ontario Rd., formerly operated as the Crowland Hotel.
In December, fire officials revisited the site to check on lengthy inspection orders previously issued against the owner, and discovered they were not complied with.
According to the release, that led to an authorization to close from the Ontario Fire Marshal and removal of occupants due to immediate fire safety risks, with the help of Canadian Red Cross.
On Sept. 10, the owner was convicted in provincial court for failing to comply with an inspection order and fined $4,000, plus victim surcharge and court costs.
In the third instance, in May firefighters were called to 139 George St. for an open-air burning complaint.
Firefighters attended the same address “numerous times” for complaints, according to the news release.
Due to the frequency of the complaints, Welland Fire and Emergency Services initiated a prosecution and on Aug. 13, the owner was convicted of having an unapproved open-air fire and placed on 12 months’ probation.
“If they’re moving at a good pace, showing us that they’re trying, we’ll work with them.”
BRIAN KENNEDY
FIRE CHIEF
In the fourth instance, in 2018 numerous fire code deficiencies were identified at 51 Niagara St. Upon a reinspection, firefighters found the property owner had not brought the building into compliance.
Its corporate ownership has been convicted and fined $2,000, plus victim fine surcharge and court costs.
In an interview Thursday, fire Chief Brian Kennedy said dealing with non-compliance incidents is frustrating, especially when landlords and property owners are given ample time to make things right after the initial visit from his inspectors.
“Some of the orders are pretty extensive and they don’t have the financial backing or wherewithal to get the work done — so we’re left with no other option than to prosecute,” said Kennedy, adding the fire department is willing to work with owners when it appears an effort is being made to comply.
“If they’re moving at a good pace, showing us that they’re trying, we’ll work with them,” he said.
“My staff is pretty clear on what they need to do, and the severity of the repercussions if they don’t,” added Kennedy.
The chief also said he doesn’t have precise figures on smoke alarm compliance in the city, but said the numbers across the province are “staggering.”