士嘉堡一间无牌团体屋起火住客为老人及精神病患者

加拿大都市网

2017年11月1日 08:56

TORONTO, ON - JULY 10 - 108 Fawcet Trail in Scarborough is one of the homes run by Winston Manning. A year-long OPP investigation into a chain of unlicensed group homes in the city's east end found shocking conditions for the disabled and or elderly residents living there, many referred to by Scarborough hospitals, the Star has learned. The OPP took its concerns to the province and discussed the "ramifications" of laying charges. "A consensus was reached" that enforcing the Long Term Care Act would put disadvantaged people on the street, so nothing was done and the homes continue to operate, according to documents obtained by the Star. The city is preparing to take action since the province refuses to licence and regulate such homes. The focus of the investigation was Comfort Residential Group Homes run by Winston Manning. July 10, 2017. Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star

■发生火警的无牌团体家屋已经被查封。星报资料图片

■经营者曼宁表示租客已获安排迁居士嘉堡其他住宅。星报

综合报道

多伦多士嘉堡一栋住有老人及精神病患者的两层高无牌团体家屋（group home）前日发生火警，6名住客及时逃离火场，没有人受伤。在多伦多消防局（Toronto Fire Service）要求下，安省省府通过查封涉事团体家屋。

涉事团体家屋位于Fawcett Trail 108号，据报由曼宁（Winston Manning）和积逊（Phyllis Jackson）合作经营。消防局在前日早上接报涉事团体家屋火警，赶抵火场后把火势扑灭。

多伦多消防局表示，现已通常查封涉事团体家屋，直至房屋回复为单家庭住屋间隔，或业主同意遵守安省消防法例为止。违反消防法例的最高刑罚是罚款10万元或入狱1年。

多伦多消防副总长杰索普（Jim Jessop）表示，以往在检查后曾经指令业主和团体家屋经营者提高安全措施，但他们一直没有依照规定改善，消防当局将会提出更多检控。杰索普直指业主及经营者故意忽视当局要求，无意遵守消防规例。

安省警方曾调查多伦多市的无牌团体家屋，包括今次起火的团体家屋。当时为期7个月的调查发现，市内有一批无牌团体家屋太过挤迫、卫生设施差劣，而且未达安全标准，但安省卫生官员曾担心即时下令停办，会导致居住在此的弱势社群无处栖身，因此未有采取执法行动。经营者曼宁接受《星报》访问时表示，Fawcett Trail租客已经被迁至其他位于士嘉堡的住宅，并且指出火警与违反消防规例无关，起因是一名租客把报纸塞进暖气系统通风口，他声言过往曾多次要求警方安排该名住客迁离，或送往医院接受病情评估。

资料来源：星报