Toronto Fire Services says two companies that provide fire inspection services in the city are facing charges under the Ontario Fire Code for allegedly failing to inspect, test and repair fire systems when they were contracted to do so.
In a news conference today, deputy fire chief Jim Jessop said the charges relate to alleged violations at a commercial building and two condominiums.
Jessop says Toronto Fire Services learned of the alleged violations about a year ago when conducting routine inspections at the buildings, adding that the investigation was the most ``laborious'' he has ever been involved in.
He says investigators are confident that the building owners hired the companies ``with the best of intentions'' and were unaware that the fire systems were not being properly serviced.
Fire inspectors have been working with the owners of affected buildings, he says, to make sure there are no fire risks there.
Jessop says Toronto Fire investigators are now looking into other buildings in the city where the accused companies may have been contracted.