A Toronto homeowner is facing $75,000 in fines in connection with a fatal house fire that occurred in November, 2013.
The fire happened in the basement of a home at 189 Sheridan Ave., near College and Dufferin Streets, at approximately 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013. Eight people who live in the house were able to escape, but one woman was trapped in the basement.
She was pulled from the building and rushed to hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. She was later identified as Alisha Lamers, 23.
The City of Toronto's Fire Prevention Officer was called to examine the circumstances of the fire.
Nearly two years after Lamers died, the City of Toronto announced that the owner of the three-storey home that had been converted into an unregistered, illegal rooming house, was convicted of several fire code violations in a trial that concluded Aug. 12.
Some of the building's smoke alarms were broken, while others had batteries that didn't work. The third floor also lacked a second exit, the statement said. Under the Ontario Fire Code, each floor must have at least two exits.
As a result of the investigation, homeowner Konstantin Lysenko was given an 18-month probation period, with the condition that he not possess or manage any rental property during that time.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of $60,000, plus a $15,000 victim surcharge.
