Provincial Convictions for Ontario Fire Code violations at Toronto hotel

The owners of 484 Spadina Ave. (Jeffrey Wynn, Trustee and 2436196 Ontario Inc.) pleaded guilty in Provincial Offences Court on June 20 following numerous inspections and measures taken by Toronto Fire Services (TFS) to protect the occupants of the building between 2013 and 2017.

The four storeys above ground operated as the Waverly Hotel with 63 rooms. The basement was occupied by a nightclub. 

TFS noted numerous violations of the Ontario Fire Code that remained uncorrected for a number of months while the building continued to be occupied. The violations included:

• absence of operating smoke alarms
• absence of required fire separations
• fire doors wedged open
• absence of required number of exits per floor area
• excessive combustible material accumulated in means of egress and on the roof
• absence of exit signs
• fire-rated doors that would not close and latch
• no records of tests for the fire alarm system, emergency lighting units, sprinkler and stand pipe system.

Jeffrey Wynn was fined $33,000 plus a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge and 2436196 Ontario Inc. was fined $153,500 plus a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge. 

“The work undertaken by Toronto Fire Services inspectors on this file transpired over several months and required countless hours and the usage of numerous enforcement mechanisms under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act to ensure the safety of the residents while the violations remain uncorrected,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop. “Toronto Fire Services is committed to ensuring appropriate measures are taken by property owners to achieve compliance and will take all necessary measures in these types of cases to reduce the probability and consequence of a fire, especially in an occupied building.”

Toronto Fire Services continues to work to reduce risk through fire prevention and enforcement strategies involving owners who fail to meet the Ontario Fire Code and jeopardize the safety of individuals and responding firefighters. Toronto Fire Services is committed to ensuring that appropriate measures are taken by property owners to achieve fire safety through compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and Fire Protection and Prevention Act. 

This release is also available on the City’s website at: http://ow.ly/8dUm30kBigf