In the wake of two fires, including one that was fatal, Wasaga Beach’s fire department says it will be taking a hard line on landlords and tenants who tamper with their smoke detectors.
On the eve of National Fire Safety Week, the town’s deputy fire chief Dan Bell said he finds it “infuriating” when his crews go to a fire and find the smoke alarm has either been tampered with in some way — or is missing altogether.
He said that may have been the case in a fire on Dunkerron Avenue two weeks ago in which the resident was found dead, and a second fire on the weekend that sent a person to hospital with smoke inhalation.
In the latter incident, Bell told Simcoe.com, the resident — the tenant of the home — was fined because the alarm had been disabled and removed.
“The fire chief and I are just incredulous that people still don’t have working smoke alarms,” Bell said.
Nov. 24 to 30 is National Fire Safety Week. The Canada Safety Council reminds the public that, in addition to fire safety precautions to take over the holidays, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested regularly, and to ensure that one is installed on every floor and outside each sleeping area.
In 2023, there were 121 fire-related deaths in 111 incidents in Ontario.
The minimum fine for removing or tampering with a smoke alarm is $360. The fine increases to between $50,000 and $100,000 for a corporation, and the possibility of a year in jail.
Bell said part of the investigation into the fatal fire by both the fire department and the Ontario fire marshal is determining whether the landlord had provided working smoke alarms, or if the tenant had tampered with the alarm in some way.
He said the department is looking at the alarms in the four other units on the property.
“There was a smoke alarm found in the residence, (but) it was not where it was supposed to be, so we’re just going to determine if that is a shortcoming of the landlord or the tenant,” he said. “If we find in the other units that it’s a shortfall of the landlord, then we’re going to issue tickets.”
In 2023, the department levied one building owner nine $360 tickets — one for each missing smoke alarm.
Bell said working smoke alarms and home escape plans are the best chance for surviving a house fire.
“We’ve educated, and educated, and educated. Now it’s time to start enforcing,” Bell said. We are taking a hard stance.”