Woman, 72, facing charges after illegal rooming house blaze that injured firefighter
Posted October 26, 2016 2:29 pm.
Last Updated December 16, 2016 10:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 72-year-old Toronto woman has been charged in connection with a blaze at an unlicensed rooming house in Little Portugal that left a firefighter with serious injuries.
The three-alarm fire broke out on Oct. 11, in the Dufferin Street and Alma Avenue area just after 9 a.m.
Interim fire chief Matthew Pegg told reporters at the time that a firefighter had lost consciousness while battling the flames and had to be pulled from the building. He regained consciousness once outside.
Toronto Fire District Chief Stephen Powell told 680 NEWS several people were forced to flee the home from an upper-storey window. Two residents suffered smoke inhalation.
On Tuesday, Toronto police charged Celia Gilda Gomez with two counts of arson by negligence. She’s also facing single counts of criminal negligence cause bodily harm, mischief endangering life and mischief under $5,000.
She’s scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 29.
What is a rooming house?
According to the city of Toronto, “Rooming houses can include a house, apartment or building where you share a kitchen and/or washroom with four or more people that pay individual rent.”
Current rules and regulations:
Rooming houses are only permitted in the former cities of York, Toronto and Etobicoke. Rooming houses that operate in Toronto and Etobicoke must be licensed.
How many rooming houses are there in Toronto?
According to the city, 328 properties are licenced, or seeking a licence to become a legal rooming house.
The city of Toronto recently funded a review, including public consultations on rooming houses. Read the full report here.