Fire crews clear out suspected hoarder’s home in Davisville

Emergency crews were granted a court order Thursday to enter a Davisville home and remove materials that were deemed a fire hazard.

Toronto Fire Division Chief Jim Stoops said the home’s owner, a suspected hoarder, failed to meet “the standard of compliance for fire protection.”

Crews in hazmat suits descended on Manor Rd., near Mt. Pleasant Road, to begin the cleanup Thursday morning.

“We have an order from the Superior Court that allows us to act and make sure there is not an excessive amount of combustible material at this home,” Stoops told CityNews.

Stoops said crews had to assure that there was a clear path in and out of the house, and that materials weren’t piling up near stoves or other sources of heat and electricity.

Coun. Josh Matlow, whose ward includes the home, said neighbours have been raising concerns about the home “for about a decade now” and said quality of life in the neighbourhood has been affected.

“I’ve been working with Toronto Fire and others to make sure that we take actions to protect the community and hopefully find the right help for the hoarder himself,” he said.

This isn’t the first time city officials were called to deal with a suspected hoarder in recent weeks. In September, dozens of cats had to be rescued from a suspected hoarder’s home in the Beach neighbourhood after residents had endured the stench and litter for years.

Earlier this month, Coun. Mary-Margaret McMahon asked council to create a hoarding co-ordination office to synchronize the efforts of police, fire and social services when dealing with extreme hoarders.

That item was referred to another committee for consideration.

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