Councillor Vaughan's Message About The Rooming House Fire

This message rolled into my inbox from our councillor, Adam Vaughan:
"Dear Annex Residents,

I am writing to provide you with an update on the fire that occurred this morning [July 2nd] at 502/504 Huron Street.

Toronto Fire Services responded to the fire shortly after 10:00 am this morning. Ten fire trucks responded to this incident and the fire was quickly under control in less than 15 minutes.

One female is confirmed dead and a male is in critical condition. The Office of the Fire Marshal and Toronto Police Services are investigating.

Once this investigation is complete, the details of this unfortunate incident will be released. Until a police report comes forward, I cannot comment on what may or may not have transpired; however, I would like to assure you this was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the immediate neighbours or the broader neighbourhood.

It is important to note that 502/504 Huron Street is a licensed rooming house that has passed recent inspections and was found to have all fire code requirements in order. The fire alarm systems in both homes were fully operational. The building has a fire safety plan and a person met fire crews outside upon arrival. Because it was licensed, City staff and emergency crews were immediately able to access information on the number of units, number of residents, and other relevant details that allowed them to more easily address the safety of the residents who live in this building.

The City’s Shelter, Housing and Support staff are on-site and providing ongoing support to the other residents of 502 Huron Street to ensure their needs are met until they can return home.

This incident highlights the importance of licensing rooming houses with the City of Toronto to ensure compliance with all applicable fire and life safety requirements. In particular, it underlines why I am working to bring fraternity and sorority houses under the rooming house bylaw.

While fraternities and sororities also house a number of people under the same roof in the same way that other rooming houses do, they are not currently required to be licensed. As a result, annual inspections, which ensure that proper fire and life safety standards are in place, do not occur; information on the number of people who live there – and other details that are helpful to emergency response services – is not readily available.

This is why it is vital that rooming house licensing requirements are extended to fraternities and sororities in your neighbourhood."

Vanessa