Welland Fire and Emergency Services (WFES) has concluded a long-running enforcement and prosecution related to serious Ontario Fire Code violations at 52 Hellems Avenue, including the assumed address of 147 Division Street. As a result, the corporate owner and its corporate director were fined a total of $287,500, including court costs, following a January 2026 Provincial Offences Court decision.
Since 2021, fire prevention staff have taken repeated enforcement action to address serious fire safety issues at the property, including inspections, orders, and court proceedings under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA). Despite fines issued in 2022 and 2023 for non-compliance, conditions continued to worsen. During a fall 2023 inspection prompted by new complaints, officers found the building in an unsafe condition, including damage to the fire alarm system, compromised fire separations between residential units, damaged fire doors, combustible materials in exit corridors, and disconnected power and water to occupied units, creating an immediate risk to tenant safety.
Due to this risk, WFES issued an Immediate Threat to Life notice under the FPPA, implemented a fire watch, and installed temporary safeguards. Following a detailed risk assessment, the service applied to the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal for authorization to close the building. The authorization was approved, and the building was formally closed in September 2023, prohibiting occupancy until critical fire safety repairs were completed.
As a result of the closure, tenants were displaced for an extended period to protect their safety. WFES worked closely with Niagara Region Social Services and community partners to support displaced tenants and help secure alternative accommodations. The service acknowledges the hardship and uncertainty experienced by tenants due to unsafe conditions caused by the property owner’s failure to comply with the Fire Code.
Given the seriousness of the violations identified during the September 2023 inspections, prosecution was initiated against both the corporate owner and its corporate director. In January 2026, both were convicted in Provincial Offences Court on multiple counts under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, including:
- Failing to repair damaged fire separations throughout the building
- Failing to repair damaged fire doors and closures
- Failing to keep exits and means of egress clear
- Failing to maintain operational emergency and exit lighting
- Failing to ensure smoke alarms were maintained in operable condition
“This prosecution brings important closure to a challenging enforcement matter,” said Matt Richardson, fire chief (acting). “Tenants were displaced for months because of serious and preventable fire safety violations, creating hardship for residents and placing additional strain on municipal and regional resources. Property owners have a legal and moral obligation to keep their buildings safe. WFES will not tolerate landlords placing tenants at risk by failing to comply with the Fire Code. These fines reflect the seriousness of the violations and underscore that fire safety is not optional, it’s the law.”
Welland Fire and Emergency Services remains committed to education, inspection, and enforcement of the Ontario Fire Code to protect residents across the community. Residents and landlords with questions about fire safety requirements are encouraged to contact fire prevention staff at fireprevention@welland.ca.