The Toronto Community Housing Corporation says it will contest a fire code violation charge that it is facing in connection with a deadly fire at a Scarborough building that was primarily home to senior citizens.
The Feb. 5 fire at a residence on Neilson Road north of Sewells Road resulted in the death of three elderly residents and injuries to 15 others.
Following the blaze, investigators with Toronto Fire Services conducted an inspection of the premises and on Wednesday it was announced that the TCHC will face a non-criminal charge in relation to two chairs that were placed in a fifth floor hallway.
The exact charge, which is for having “combustible materials accumulated in any part of a means of egress,” carries a maximum fine of $100,000.
“We dispute the charge and feel that we were in compliance with all fire code regulations at the time of the fire,” Interim TCHC President Greg Spearn told reporters at a news conference. “The armchairs have been in alcoves on all floors for many years. They are adjacent to the hallway, not part of hallway exit area.”
Though the TCHC maintains that the placement of the chairs did not represent a fire code violation, Spearn said that staff have went through “other buildings to make sure there was nothing else possibly in question of that nature” and in some cases removed furniture out of “abundance of caution.”
Spearn also said that the TCHC is redoubling its efforts to ensure its buildings are safe in light of the tragic fire, the cuase of which has not yet been determined.
“I don’t see that we are ducking accountability at all. What we are saying is that this specific charge we disagree with it and therefore we will contest it. That does not mean we are stepping away from any of our responsibilities with regards to fire prevention, which is why we are working very closely with Chief Sales,” Spearn said.
According to Toronto Fire Services, there are currently three other pending charges against the TCHC for alleged fire code violations at other buildings it owns.
