A downtown Barrie bar pled guilty to charges of obstructing emergency exits during a St. Patrick’s Day event last year.
Tiff’s was fined $10,0000 Wednesday morning, after pleading guilty in provincial court to charges of blocking and locking emergencies exits on March 17, 2008; the Barrie Fire and Emergency Services responded to a public complaint that day, as revellers enjoyed the Irish-themed festivities.
“Fire departments across Ontario have taken a zero-tolerance position when they discover Fire Code violations that directly impact public safety,” said fire prevention officer Jeff Holmyard.
“These fines serve as a punitive measure to the owner and (as) a general deterrent to other owners of assembly occupancies, thereby sending the message that Fire Code violations, including improperly maintained exits, will not be tolerated.”
On Feb. 18, 2003, 21 people were crushed to death while attempting to escape from a Chicago nightclub. Two days latter, 100 people died in another nightclub fire in Warwick, Rhode Island. After those two events, the Barrie fire department sent letters to downtown bars to explain the importance of properly maintaining emergency exits.
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