The recent fire at 500 Dawes Road once again raises the issue of adequate fire safety regulations in apartment buildings, especially older buildings that might not meet current City of Toronto building regulations.
According to news reports, the fire started in the elevator shaft of the building where the superintendent and a maintenance man were working on the elevators with a soldering gun. There was an explosion and a fire started in the elevator sending plumes of black smoke up to every floor. This particular building is an older building with no roof hatches to vent the smoke so thick plumes of smoke wend their way through apartment units, windows, hallways and balconies. Some tenants were unable to exit the building quickly and had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Those in the elevator in question received serious injuries and had to be treated in hospital. Clearly this building needs to be evaluated for fire safety code compliance.
Recently there was also a serious fire occurring on one of the balconies at 165 Barrington Avenue. That fire has been attributed to discarding lighted cigarette butts over balconies. Damage to the balcony in question was extensive and the heavy smoke emanating from that fire inconvenienced tenants on several floors. Fortunately there were no injuries but several tenants who were affected by the smoke seeping into their units and the hallways remain very concerned about this incident. Tenants in this building frequently complain of finding butts on their balconies. Notices have been posted by management cautioning tenants about discarding lighted cigarette butts over their balconies and also encouraging tenants to forward any information they have about this incident.
Most us in the GTA recall that massive fire that occurred at a TCHC apartment building on Wellesley Street last year. Many of the residents were stranded for days and unable to return to their units. That fire was also attibuted to a lighted cigarette butt that landed on a balcony packed with various items that included combustible materials stored there. Massive hoarding of all kinds of stuff in apartments and balconies is neither safe nor healthy and has become somewhat of an epidemic nowadays. In addition to being a serious fire hazard there are unpleasant outcomes from this practice. Many of the hoarded items are scavenged either from the street or from items discarded at the rear of apartment buildings. These scavenged items often bring unwanted visitors such as bed bugs, cockroaches, and who knows what else, to apartments ! All the excess items that tenants hoard should be stored either in apartment lockers or in a public storage facility.
The fires caused by careless discarding of cigarette butts brings us back to the issue of the rights of ‘smokers’ versus ‘non-smokers’. (Refer to our post on this issue: Smoke Free Housing). This is not only safety issue but also a health issue as it is well-documented that smoking can damage a person’s health. Cigarette smoke infiltrating through electrical outlets and other crevices in poorly insulated buildings exposes non-smoking tenants to second-hand smoke. Perhaps it is time reconsider whether or not tenants have a right to smoke in their unit or on their balcony since that activity can compromise both the safety and health of other tenants.
Tenants should take note that the property managers/landlords are required to perform annual fire safety checks to ensure the building meets the municipal building code. If buildings are up to code and the fire/smoke alarms are operating then tenants are assured that they will be made aware of a fire in a timely manner and can protect themselves accordingly.
For your own benefit and safety it is recommended that you check out the City of Toronto fire Safety and Fire prevention tips http://www.toronto.ca/fire/prevention/
I am a former smoker who smoked for over 25 years and am so glad I gave it up. I have more money in my wallet and am no long damaging my health or those around me. It is all well and good to talk about rights but ‘your rights’ should not trump ‘my rights’. Throwing lighted butts over the balcony is so irresponsible and franklyi quick sick. Proper insulation of apartment buildings should be mandatory for those landlords. It is hard for the elderly to give up smoking as htey have probably been smoking for decades probably over 50 years. Yet they are the ones most vulnerable when there is a fire — some are disabled or not mobile enough to get out of a building quickly. More emphasis should be put on educating residents on fire safety information by posting easy to read safety information in apartment buildings.
All buildings should meet fire safety codes. But storing items on the balcony can be a serious fire hazard. Some people hoard stuff in their unit and their balcony overflowing with stuff scavenged from the streets or from buildings where tenants moving out leave a lot of broken items at the back of the building. This stuff is often infested iwth bedbugs. STOP HOARDING STUFF AND BRINGING BACK OTHER PEOPLE’S GARBAGE INTO THE BUILDING.
Why on earth aren’t fire regulations consistent for ALL buildings? It was a relief to hear tthat no one died in that Dawes Rd. building but something has to be done to improve safety regulations there. So many of the buildings on Dawes Rd have all kinds of maintenance and repiars issues and also are overrun with bed bugs, cockroaches and mice. Do they all have the same owners and could that be the reason for all the problems ?
Yes, my comment is short and sweet (or not!!!): It is inconsiderate, selfish and ignorant of anyone to throw or spit (yes, spit!) ANYTHING over the balcony. Whatever you are expelling will land on someone else’s balcony, perhaps even their head! How would you like that happening to you?
Smoking is a filthy, dirty, unhealthy habit, but it’s a personal choice and I respect that. However, I do not respect, nor do I approve of, anyone throwing butts (or spitting, as I’ve seen happen) over the balcony railing. That part of a dirty habit is endangering other tenants, as well as being inconsiderate and unhealthy. I have on several occasions found butts on my balcony and it scares the daylight out of me, as I know cigarette butts do not extinguish the way cigar butts do. They keep on smoldering and can easily ignite anything flammable that tenants may be storing on their balconies – especially in light of the fact most can’t get lockers! Another problem for another time!!!
Sorry if I sound frustrated but I simply have little patience or tolerance for such degree of ignorance. An apartment fire is not to be taken lightly. It can ruin a family’s life and incur a great financial burden — all because of someone’s thoughtless, selfish act! Merry Christmas!!! May you have a (fire)safe one!