Owner of Fairfield Manor retirement residences ordered to close

Kingston Fire & Rescue has received approval from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office to issue an ‘Order to Close’ to the private owner of Fairfield Manor’s east and west locations.

The City of Kingston issued a press release on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, announcing the Order to Close. The owner of the retirement residences, Q and Sons Management Inc., was charged a week ago for failing to comply with fire safety regulations applicable to buildings containing vulnerable occupants, and both the Fairfield West and Fairfield East locations were subsequently vacated – though residents at the east location remained in the facility for the majority of this week, sometimes without food service, and, at times, with only one staff member on duty.

“The owner would have to comply with the conditions in the inspection order as it relates to the fire safety of vulnerable occupants under the Ontario Fire Code before consideration would be given to lift the Order to Close,” said Kevin Donaldson, Deputy Chief for Kingston Fire and Rescue.

Kingston Fire and Rescue will remain on site at the Fairfield East location until the end of the day while the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) finalizes arrangements, and has requested that all agencies with residents in their care assist in their relocation, according to the City.

“The South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) has been successfully assisting in finding other living arrangements for the seven residents that remain at the privately owned retirement home,” the press release reads, although some residents have ended up at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

“The South East LHIN is actively engaged with the ongoing situation at Fairfield Manor East. We are committed to supporting continuity of care, however as a result of the lack of compliance in relation to fire safety for the vulnerable occupants at the retirement home, and the ability to address health and safety concerns, we are no longer able to direct our home care staff to provide services and supports to patients at this location,” Cynthia Martineau, acting CEO of the South East LHIN, said in the press release from the City.

“Care coordinators are available to assist residents and caregivers, and will continue to support them as much as possible at any interim location and certainly any subsequent permanent location.”