Welland hands out $52,500 in fines for fire code violations
Jun 10, 2024
Welland Tribune
By Welland Tribune Staff
Fire code violations and deficiencies at four Welland properties resulted in $52,500 in fines in Provincial Offences Court, Welland Fire and Emergency Services said.
In a release, Deputy Chief Matt Richardson said the city’s fire prevention officers are committed to reminding residents and visitors to prioritize fire safety where they live and work.
“It’s important that residents and visitors understand that fire code violations will not be tolerated,” said Richardson.
Owners of the two-storey property at 188 Maple Ave., home to The Kavern on the main floor and residential apartments on the second, faced their third prosecution in court for fire code violations, said the fire department release.
It said fire prevention officers inspected the property in July 2022 and, after finding fire code deficiencies, ordered the corporate ownership to repair missing or damaged fire separations.
“A re-inspection occurred following the compliance date on the inspection order, and fire prevention officers discovered the property remained in noncompliance. As a result of this inspection, a prosecution was initiated against the corporate ownership for failing to comply with an inspection order,” the release said.
Corporate directors for the property were also individually charged with the associated fire code offences, and this past April, the corporate ownership and directors were convicted and fined more than $18,000 in court.
The fire department said remedial work is now complete at the building.
The release said a 2021 fire safety inspection of a five-storey apartment building at 85 First Ave. found numerous serious fire code deficiencies, and the owners were ordered to repair and upgrade fire and life safety systems.
Despite an appeal to the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal, the required work was not complete by an established compliance date, said the fire department.
A re-inspection found the work remaining in noncompliance, and earlier this year, the corporate ownership was convicted and fined $8,500, including court costs.
The fire department said the required remedial work is now complete at the building.
Last month, the owner of 23 Welland St., a mixed commercial and residential building, was fined $8,000, including court costs, stemming from an inspection in 2022 and a subsequent re-inspection of the property.
The original inspection found fire code violations, including missing or damaged fire separations and fire-rated doors.