Owner and tenant face smoke alarm related charges

For immediate release (October 3, 2014) – The owner of a property on West Street North in Orillia has been charged under the Provincial Offences Act for failing to maintain a smoke alarm, and a tenant at the same address has been charged for intentionally disabling a smoke alarm. 

“Building owners and tenants must both understand that it is their responsibility to ensure that working smoke alarms are installed, maintained and working where required,” said Orillia Fire Chief Ralph Dominelli.  “Failing to maintain and disabling smoke alarms will result in charges.”

On September 29, 2014 the Orillia Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call for the report of a fire in a three unit apartment building located at 385 West Street North in Orillia.  Fire fighters entered the smoke filled apartment and found the kitchen fire was extinguished.  The lone occupant of the apartment was taken to Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital with smoke inhalation related injuries.  The occupant narrowly escaped very serious injuries after attempting to extinguish a grease fire with water.

If you experience a grease fire while cooking, use a pot lid the same size as the pot to smother the fire, turn off the heat and call 9-1-1.  The Orillia Fire Department recommends the use of self-contained thermostatically controlled deep fat fryers.  They are designed to stop the grease from overheating.  Never leave cooking unattended and never use water on a pot of overheated grease both can be deadly.

Both charges laid in this incident relate to contraventions of the Ontario Fire Code. Penalties upon conviction under the Provincial Offences Act range from $235 for a Part I ticketable offence to a maximum $50,000 and/or up to a year in prison if charged under Part III of the Act.

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Ralph Dominelli
Fire Chief
Orillia Fire Department
705 - 325 - 5215
rdominelli@orillia.ca

Laura Thompson
Manager of Communications
705-325-8929
705-826-4399 (cell)
lthompson@orillia.ca