A Red Deer apartment building owner has been fined for putting tenants at risk because of a lack of a functional fire alarm.
The city’s fire marshall says this serves as a reminder to property owners to ensure the safety of tenants by complying with the Fire Code and the Safety Codes Act.
According to Red Deer Emergency Services, the owner of an apartment building at 5903 55th Ave. failed to ensure the fire alarm system was maintained at all times and inspected and tested annually.
The owner’s neglect left residents at risk for more than eight months before the system was inspected and repaired to working condition, according to the city.
A functioning fire alarm is extremely important in apartment buildings, where people are counting on it to alert them to evacuate before it’s too late, said fire marshall Wes Van Bavel.
The owner pleaded guilty to two offences under the Safety Codes Act and received a fine of $7,500 for each infraction, for a total of $15,000.
The maximum fine under the Safety Codes Act is $100,000 for each offenne and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.