Property owner facing 56 fire-related charges

The owner of a multi-unit residential building on Beech Street in the downtown area of Sudbury is facing 56 charges under the Ontario Fire Code, a press release from Greater Sudbury Fire Services reported.

These charges come after a March 29 fire at the building sent one man to hospital with burns and severe smoke inhalation.

The property owners have been charged with multiple counts of 15 separate infractions, the press release stated.

These infractions include failure to maintain working smoke alarms, failure to test alarms, failure to provide emergency lighting and signage and more than 20 counts of structural deficiencies in the building that would allow the spread of fire.

Under the Ontario Fire Code, fines up to $100,000 per infraction and up to a year in jail can be imposed for corporate owners found to be in contravention of the act. Fines for an individual can be as high as $50,000 per count and also can result in a one year jail sentence.

“We treat every week as fire prevention week in Greater Sudbury,” Marc Leduc, the city's fire chief, said.

“The Greater Sudbury Fire Service will continue to work with residents and building owners throughout the community to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities. Failure to ensure fire safety has a significant negative impact.”