Cornwall Fire Services and the Office of the Fire Marshal have determined, based on serious fire safety concerns, that it is necessary for the building at 510 Second Street East, operating as “The Care Centre”, to be immediately closed and all residents temporarily relocated.
“Our focus is always on community safety,” said Cornwall Fire Services Chief Matthew Stephenson. “We are adopting a community approach to this issue to make sure we have the least impact as possible on every resident involved.”
Several of the City’s departments have worked together closely to ensure that the residents of the building be relocated to alternative, safe lodging.
“Staff from the Human Services Department were on site throughout the process to speak with all residents and assist them in finding alternative accommodations,” said Mellissa Morgan, General Manager of Human Services and Long Term Care. “We continue to work with those residents to ensure they remain safely housed.”
In the meantime, the Care Centre’s owners will be required to bring the into compliance with the Fire Code.
There have been ongoing concerns with operation and maintenance of the building since it was purchased by the current owners in 2014 that the City has repeatedly engaged to resolve. These include bedbugs, ongoing intermittent heat, lack of required yearly certifications. There are currently no operating elevators in the building. On two separate occasions, the City implemented its Vital Services By-Law which resulted in the City paying for both of these vital services.
The City’s utmost concern is the safety of its citizens, and it will continue to monitor this situation closely to ensure that public safety is prioritized.
“The order to close 510 Second Street East is an extraordinary step that was not taken lightly,” said Mayor Justin Towndale. “The path to closure does not happen overnight, and it was taken to ensure the safety of all involved.”
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has also been made aware of the situation.
“The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is… providing support to the City of Cornwall in this matter,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU.
