Charges have been laid for alleged fire code violations in connection with a blaze that killed one person and two dogs in Scarborough last month.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 29, a fire broke out in the basement of a two-storey home on Birkdale Road in Scarborough.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find flames coming from a basement apartment. Several people were in the basement when the fire broke out and two were rushed to hospital in critical condition. One of the victims was pronounced dead a short time later.
Two other people, a 56-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, were also taken to hospital with minor smoke inhalation.
According to a news release issued by Toronto Fire Services Thursday, investigators discovered that the home was operating as a rooming house occupied by nine people. Following a post-fire inspection, officials say fire code violations were found with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as the number of exits and fire-rated doors.
“The violations related to early detection (smoke alarms) affected the ability of the occupants to safely evacuate from the building,” the news release read.
“Toronto Fire Services laid charges in the Provincial Offences Court against the registered owner of the house and a tenant who was sub-renting to additional occupants.”
Penalties for fire code violations can run as high as $50,000 and or one year in jail for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.
The Office of the Fire Marshal was called in to investigate the deadly blaze and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
