Charges to be laid in Toronto for disabling a carbon monoxide alarm

The City of Toronto’s Fire Services will charge the owner of a home for allegedly disabling a carbon monoxide alarm. The decision follows an incident last week that sent three people to hospital. The Ontario Fire Code prohibits disabling carbon monoxide alarms.

Toronto Fire Services was called to a home early in the morning on November 25, when it was reported that occupants had repeatedly passed out. Upon arrival, Toronto firefighters rescued two adults and a child, who were immediately transported to a hospital. In addition, a firefighter was taken to hospital for carbon monoxide exposure.

Toronto Fire Services conducted air-monitoring tests and found readings of carbon monoxide at 900 parts per million, which far exceeds acceptable levels.

The implementation of the Hawkins Gignac Act (Carbon Monoxide Safety) Ontario Regulation 194/14 amended the Ontario Fire Code, with Royal Assent on December 12, 2013, establishing the legal requirement as of October 15, 2014 to maintain and test carbon monoxide alarms in all residential occupancies.

Violations of the Ontario Fire Code are serious public safety concerns and charges can be initiated in the Provincial Offences Court. The penalties for Fire Code violations run up to $50,000 and/or a year in jail for individuals and up to $100,000 for a corporation

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