LANDLORD IN HUNTSVILLE FINED $955 FOR NO SMOKE OR CO DECTECTORS

HUNTSVILLE — A local landlord has been fined almost $1,000 for failing to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in some rental units on its main street after a fire last Thursday.

The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department says in a release that firefighter inspected a property on Main Street West Feb. 25 and fire crews found some deficiencies.

Mike Vadlja, fire prevention officer, told MuskokaTODAY.com today that they had originally been called to investigate a gas leak.

The landlord has since been fined under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act for failing to install a smoke alarm where required, failing to install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm where required and failing to prepare a written record of test as required.

The fines amounted $955 including surcharges. 

Vadlja says Ontario law requires working smoke alarms on every storey of a home and outside all sleeping areas.

He says homes with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage require a carbon monoxide alarm near each sleeping area.

Fire Chief Rob Collins added: “The fire department is committed to keeping our residents safe and has zero tolerance for missing or un-maintained alarms.”

It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep properties maintained and ensure the building complies with the Ontario Fire Code.

Landlords are required to test alarms annually and after every change of tenancy. Records of these tests must be maintained and kept.

Tenants are required to maintain the alarms in working order and notify the landlord if an alarm becomes inoperative.

They may also be fined for failing to follow their obligations under the Fire Code.