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11 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,D ecem ber 27,2018 insidehalton.com Experienced Professional Services for Individual, Business & Corporation 647-989-1276 Ying (Kimberley)Yang 11-1155 North Service Rd.W, Oakville 18th Flr, 2 St. ClairAve.W, Toronto 289-291-3924 647-255-8049 YY@YangAccounting.caYY@YangAccounting YangAccounting.ca • Tax Disputes • Individual Tax, Payroll, HST Disputes • Business & Corporation Tax Disputes • Tax Planning & Estate Planning • Business Planning & Advisory Services CRAPROBLEMS???? GOLDGOLDGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOLDGOGOGOGOGOLDLDGOLDLDLDLDLDLDLD The Town of Oakville and the Oakville fire department are fac- ing a $1.9-million lawsuit for al- leged negligence in connection with a 2016 house fire. The plaintiffs, Jay and Elaine Stringer, recently initiated the proceedings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The Stringers are the owners of 1208 Colborne Court, which was significantly damaged by fire on Nov. 13, 2016.fire on Nov. 13, 2016.f According to background in- formation supplied in court doc-formation supplied in court doc-f uments, there was a fire at a nearby Morrison Heights home and embers from that fire blew over onto the roof of the Col- borne Court residence and ignit- ed at about 1:40 a.m. The Oakville fire department put out the Colborne Court house fire. The damage to the roof was considered minimal, so the plaintiffs were permitted to re- enter their home for the night. At about 7:30 a.m., the plain- tiffs were awakened by a con- cerned neighbour who told them the roof of their home was again on fire. When the plaintiffs came out- side they saw smoke and flames coming from their roof, above the north bedroom. The Oakville fire department put out this fire. At this point, the house had sustained significant fire, smoke and water damage, and the plain- tiffs could no longer stay there. At 7:15 p.m., the plaintiffs said a third fire broke out on the roof of their home. A neighbour saw the blaze and called 911. The Oakville fire department came and extinguished this fire; however, the home sustained further damage.further damage.f Following this latest incident, the plaintiffs noted in court doc- uments, the fire department maintained an ongoing fire watch at their home with inspec- tions conducted every hour. On at least one occasion, they said, the fire department located burning embers in the resi- dence's insulation. An ongoing fire watch was maintained at the property over the course of Nov. 14, 2016. According to court docu- ments, the plaintiffs allege the damage from the two apparent rekindling incidents was caused by negligence, want of care and breach of duty by the Town of Oakville and the Oakville fire de- partment, which the town is re- sponsible for. The Town of Oakville, which declined to comment on the mat- ter because it is before the courts, noted the claim is being addressed by the town's insur- ance company. In the court documents, the plaintiffs allege that the defen- dants: • Failed to inspect all areas of the house where the possibility of the presence of a residual fire, remaining embers or smoulder- ing fuel might exist, when they knew, or ought to have known, such a set of circumstances was likely to exist • Failed to ensure that the ini- tial fire and rekindle No. 1 were completely extinguished prior to leaving the house and handing over responsibility for the house to the plaintiffs • Failed to conduct a reason- able, or any, fire watch at the house following the initial fire and rekindle No. 1, or otherwise failed to follow a reasonable, orfailed to follow a reasonable, orf any, deployment process so that a fire watch could be maintained • Failed to exercise reasonable care or take adequate, or any, precautions, such as maintain- ing a fire watch, in circumstanc- es where the house had a high fu- el load due to its old and dry ce- dar-shake roof, which they knew, or ought to have known, could be easily susceptible to a rekindle The plaintiffs said that, as a result of this alleged negligence, they have suffered damages, in- cluding property damage, out-of- pocket expenses and other dam- ages, totalling about $1.9 million. They are seeking compensa- tion from the town and Oakville fire department, through thefire department, through thef court. It is unclear at this time when these court proceedings will commence. No statement of de- fence has been filed at this time. fence has been filed at this time. f NEWS TOWN OF OAKVILLE/OAKVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT FACING $1.9-MILLION LAWSUIT DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Town of Oakville/Oakville Fire Department faces a $1.9 - milion lawsuit. Metroland file photo.