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For immediate release (May 21, 2015) – A tenant of a property at 114 Elgin Street in Orillia has been charged under the Provincial Offences Act for 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. “To disable or fail to maintain smoke alarms will result in charges.”
On May 4, 2015 the Orillia Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call for the report of a fire in a building located at 114 Elgin Street in Orillia. Fire fighters kept the fire contained to the rear portion of the building.
The Orillia Fire Department recommends contacting your landlord if you are experiencing nuisance alarms. Nuisance alarms can be reduced or eliminated by moving the alarm or replacing it with a photoelectric type smoke alarm equipped with a hush feature. Under new regulations tenants are required to notify the landlord when a smoke alarm is disconnected, not working or its function is impaired. Failure to do so could result in a $360 ticket.
The charge laid in this incident relates to contraventions of the Ontario Fire Code. Penalties upon conviction under the Provincial Offences Act range from $235 for a Part I ticketable offence can lead to a maximum $50,000 fine 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
