Vacant house destroyed by fire had a history of complaints
Frightened neighbours had to flee blaze: One says city ‘should have done something sooner’
I feel they should have done something sooner, before this happened
— ELIZABETH VOGEL, WHO LIVES NEXT DOOR TO THE BURNED HOUSE.
KITCHENER — On March 22, Rhonda Piché warned the City of Kitchener that a derelict house near her home threatened the safety of her neighbourhood.
The vacant house on West Avenue in Kitchener burned down 83 days later — on Tuesday.
The blaze also damaged two neighbouring homes, briefly igniting one, and sent frightened residents fleeing into the street.
No one was hurt.
By Wednesday the ruins were fenced. Repairs were underway and insurers were on site, assessing damage estimated at $450,000.
But while life moves on, residents are still fuming, rejecting the city’s assertion that it acted properly on complaints.
“I feel they should have done something sooner, before this happened,” said Elizabeth Vogel, who lives next door to the burned house.
The blaze ignited her roof. She’s been forced from her home by water and smoke damage. “They should have boarded it up at least so nobody could go in,” she said.
Piché, who lives nearby on Homewood Avenue, provided The Record with a copy of
the email she sent to the city on March 22 to warn about the home.
The email reads: “I would like to register a complaint about 66 West Avenue in Kitchener. The house has had substantial renovations started last year and no other work has been done since last spring or early summer 2016.
“There is an open dormer on the top floor which has not been closed in since that time. I am not sure but I also suspect that there are now squatters in the property. I noticed a flash of light in the open dormer early one morning.
“If there are people in there I am concerned for the safety of the neighbourhood and especially my mother whose property backs up to this house. I realize they have a valid building permit but how long can this house be left in an abandoned derelict condition? The condition of this house reflects badly on the rest of our homes in the area.”
The city responded the same day: “We will have an officer check on the house today to make sure it is secured and everything is in order.”
Jeff and Amanda Waters own the house, now in ruins.
They did not have a building permit for work started after buying the property in December 2015 for $160,000.
Jeff Waters would not comment Wednesday while visiting the fire scene.
Police and the fire department are investigating the fire, its cause still unknown.
City and property records point to a stalled renovation. After buying the house the owners began renovations without the permit.
Neighbours complained about debris.
The city ordered work stopped in April 2016 until permits were obtained.
A building permit was sought last September but the application was never completed.
It states: “Permit is to replace a bearing main floor wall with a beam, reframing both dormers, and enlarging dormer windows.”
“I don’t think there was enough follow-through on it,” Piché said. “You didn’t see that there was any action being taken.”
The city says it ordered the vacant building secured last September and again in March when Piché complained.
In March, city staff secured the building, notified the owner, and followed up a week later to find that the property was still secure.
“We responded and acted within the legislation that applies and that allows our bylaw and building staff to deal with properties,” Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said.
Kitchener council is pondering changes to how it handles vacant buildings.
Proposals could give the city power to demolish buildings left vacant for more than two years.