A Brampton property owner has been sentenced in connection with a fatal house fire that claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and her three-year-old daughter in June 2023.
The fire broke out around 11 p.m. on June 2 at a home on Jade Crescent. Firefighters found one person outside with burn injuries and rescued two others from inside the residence. A pregnant woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while her young daughter later died in hospital.
The victims were living in the basement of the home, which investigators found had been illegally divided into four rental units. The property was officially approved for only two units, and the additional units had been rented without the required permits or compliance with Ontario’s building and fire safety regulations.
Investigators also determined that the home lacked functioning smoke alarms on both the first floor and in the basement.
Brampton Fire and Emergency Services laid seven charges against the owner under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, involving fire separations as well as smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
The owner has now been sentenced to 135 days in custody, to be served consecutively, followed by two years of probation. The sentence also includes a $50,000 fine and $10,000 in victim surcharges. As part of the probation terms, the owner is prohibited from committing the same or a related offence.