[LikeHamilton]

Building owner fined for fire code violations
Rick Zamperin 900 CHML
10/8/2009


The owner of a vacant office building in downtown Hamilton has pleaded guilty to a number of fire code violations.

Darko Vranich faces fines of just over 10-thousand dollars after converting the former federal government office building at 150 Main Street West to a warehouse storage facility.

Fire officials say changing the use from an office building to a warehouse increased the combustible loading in the building, creating a higher fire risk than what the original building was designed for.

An Inspector says the building's hose and sprinkler system was also shut down and were in-operative.

The fines come during Fire Prevention Week, a week in which fire officials stress the importance of fire safety in our daily lives.