EMS: Building Owner Fined $11K for Fire Code Offences

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Building Owner Fined $11,000 for Ontario Fire Code Offences

HAMILTON, ON – April 16, 2009 – The registered owner of a three storey building located at 154 James Street North, Hamilton, entered a guilty plea in Provincial Offences Court and has been convicted of seven violations of the Ontario Fire Code and fined a total of $11,000.

Noureen Choudrey was convicted of seven counts that included failure to restore the buildings smoke alarm system to operating condition, failure to repair an exit sign, failure to repair hardware on fire separation doors to ensure proper closing and latching, failure to prepare and submit a Fire Safety Plan, failure to install an approved self closing device on a door opening into the exit corridor and failure to provide a secondary means of egress from the second and third floors to grade.

This is the second conviction against this property owner at this address. Previously, On June 22, 2007, Noureen Choudry was convicted and fined a total of $7,000 for five violations of the Ontario Fire Code. Two of the violations for which she was convicted in 2007 were repeated in this latest set of charges.

The above noted requirements are important to the life safety of all residents in the building. Some of the requirements have subsequently been complied with and the building has been sold to new owners. At this time the second and third floor apartments remain vacant, while three businesses continue to operate on the first floor level.

“It is the responsibility of all building owners to ensure their buildings are in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code” states Chief Fire Prevention Officer Jim Winn with Hamilton Emergency Services.

Fire Prevention Division staff with Hamilton Emergency Services will continue to follow-up to ensure compliance with all applicable fire regulations and to ensure the safety of all occupants in this building. It is anticipated that the fines levied in this matter will serve as a general deterrent for owners of similar properties and remind all building owners of their obligations concerning fire safety.