Welland property owners hit with over $60,000 in fines during September after fire code violations

Separate charges to four different property owners for fire code violations through the course of the year by the Welland Fire and Emergency Services (WFES) has seen over $60,000 in fines levied during September in Provincial Offences Court.

After the four separate cases were heard last month, the fines totalled $61,875.

In July 2022, the WFES investigated a property at 204 Bethune Avenue to follow up on a fire safety concern and found numerous smoke alarms not working. On Sept. 28 in Provincial Offences Court, the owners were hit with $3,125 in fines.

In Sept. 2022, the WFES went to the property at 38-40 First St. to follow up on previously identified fire safety issues in the six-unit residential building and found no work had been work regarding their previous safety order. The violations included inadequate fire separations, failing to install and maintain smoke alarms, and failing to implement a fire safety plan.

On Sept. 28, the property owner was convicted in Provincial Offences Court and fined $31,250, including court costs.

On Nov. 29, 2022, the WFES investigated a property at 114 Second St. for reports of a large bonfire on the property. When the fire crews arrived, the property owner not only wouldn’t let them enter the property, but they also refused to put out the unapproved open-air bonfire.

After being charged, they landed in court on Sept. 14 where they were fined for not allowing the fire officials onto their property and refusing to put out an illegal fire. That netted them an $18,750 fine.

Finally, in January of this year, the WRES went to the property at 41 Exeter Ave. after complaints regarding fire safety violations. They discovered that smoke alarms were not installed or maintained in an operable condition. On Sept. 14, the property owner was convicted for failing to install and maintain smoke alarms and was fined $8,750.

Afterward, the WFES said, “These prosecutions and subsequent fines are serious, but they reflect the serious risks fire safety issues pose in buildings and property. WFES implores all residents to prioritize fire safety where they live and work.”

This property at 114 Second St. in Welland was fined in Provincial Offences Court for not allowing fire officials on the property and refusing to put out the unapproved open-air bonfire. (Photo: Google Maps)