The family of a young man who died in a fire last year is urging Windsor City Council to implement a residential rental licensing system.
Andrew Kraayenbrink died when a house he was renting on Rankin Ave. erupted in flames October 26, 2017. Others who were renting the house with him were able to escape through a window but Kraayenbrink didn't make it.
Council considered the system during a meeting in November but the item was deferred when a decision could not be reached due to equal votes. Councillor Bill Marra was absent from the meeting and two councillors had to abstain from voting due to conflict of interest.
Kraayenbrink's mother Jennifer DePooter says something needs to change so that other families do not have to go through the same thing.
"The thought of another family going through this, of other siblings going through this, it's just unbelievable. My only focus is to try to bring awareness to parents," says DePooter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96RBf7GYok&feature=youtu.be
No charges were ever laid in the case because there were three working smoke alarms in the home. However, the Ontario Fire Marshal report did state the location of the fire alarms did not adhere to the fire code and could have contributed to the delay in detection of the fire.
"[The fire code] required that a smoke alarm be installed between the first floor sleeping area the remainder of the dwelling unit. The intent being to provide warning to person(s) within the bedroom of smoke and a potential fire. While the aforementioned bedroom was not occupied at the time of this fire event, the lack of this required fire alarm was significant as it contributed to the delay in detection of the fire by the home's occupants. The delayed detection resulted in the advanced fire conditions faced by the occupants as they considered their escape from the home," read the report from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal.
The family and a group of local advocates want a licensing system that would include an inspection to ensure all safety regulations are being met.
