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The RTC obtained the incident report for the fire on April 30, 2024, provided by the Clerk's Office of the City of Montreal. Unfortunately only the french document was provided however we translated the most interesting parts below.

Relevant details:

• The fire chief determined that the fire was caused by a cigarette thrown into the garbage container.
• A sprinkler activated.
• An alarm system connected to a central unit activated.
• The smoke detector activated.
• The first firefighters were called at 9:10 AM and took 4 minutes and 41 seconds to arrive on site.
• Upon departure, the firefighters informed the dispatch center that the alarms raised by the system and the sprinklers were non-urgent, likely because they had difficulty stopping them (as described by eyewitnesses). The firefighters instructed Minto officials to call the alarm company for verification.
  

Conclusion:

• The source of the fire was minor but demonstrates that cigarette use is poorly controlled; cameras in strategic locations in the garage would help maintain the security of the premises.
• The alarm system and sprinklers operated, which is reassuring.
• The firefighters had to ask Minto to have the alarm and sprinklers checked. Is this related to incidents that occurred early in the morning, twice since the fire?

Additionally, witnesses mentioned that the new speaker system was not working, and residents were unsure whether it was a drill or a real incident.

The Collective has requested that tenants be informed of the status of the alarm project, especially since the old communication system was removed while the new one does not seem fully operational yet.

Graffiti that appeared more than a month ago on the walls of Rockhill has still not been cleaned up, contributing to the neglected appearance of the grounds and raising concerns about the presence of people with anti-social behavior on the premises.

One of the graffiti was made on the wall next to the security office, which seems to indicate a laxity with respect to illicit activities happening right under the nose of security.

Another graffiti was observed near the main entrance of building C - as a welcome for those coming to the rental office?

It is recognized that the lack of urgency in making repairs and cleaning the property encourages antisocial behaviors and contributes to the frustration and feeling of insecurity among tenants who must see this deterioration every day with no apparent interest from the administration.

For Minto REIT, whose business model consists of buying rental properties and increasing their value through improvements to the buildings and apartments, it is contradictory to allow the deterioration of common areas and infrastructures to accumulate.

The administration must act immediately to send a clear signal that such misdemeanors will not be tolerated, to avoid the complex to start having the appearance of a hang-out for a street gang!

The lone security guard for the six buildings at Rockhill is placed in an impossible situation, especially on Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Tenants must call multiple times for assistance while the guard is overwhelmed by numerous situations he must face alone without support, sometimes among several people who may be intoxicated and looking for conflict. In an aggressive situation, the presence of a second guard could help calm things down and/or provide assistance.

It is the responsibility of the landlord to provide peaceful enjoyment of the housing, including ensuring that tenants are not disturbed by other tenants in the building. (see the article from Éducaloi)

Several tenants have also reported that when they are bothered by the smells of tobacco or marijuana, the security service says they are unable to investigate where the smell is coming from. They also say they are unable to follow up with the police as they would not investigate a single isolated case.

Regardless, Minto cannot shirk their responsibility for problems that are common in rental buildings, under penalty of being asked for a rent reduction for loss of enjoyment.

A tenant informed us of the inability to reach the security guard since he was elsewhere in the Rockhill complex and there is no way to contact him directly. She had to wait 45 minutes for him to return to the office.

In this situation, the only option is to leave a message and hope someone calls back. However, it seems that the telephone system does not always allow leaving a message, which makes communication impossible in this case.

The entrance door of garage A was replaced with a new door on January 31. Since then, the door has been out of order almost half of the time:

• April 9 (not yet repaired)
• February 22 - March 18

This situation raises doubts about the selection of the door supplier, the quality of the new door, and the supervision during its installation.

The wires of the alarm system continue to be exposed, all the while system tests are being performed.

In the photo,

In the photo, the device labeled "Simplex" is a well-known brand that specializes in fire alarm and life safety systems. The device shown in the photo appears to be a fire alarm system component, possibly a power supply or a control communicator for the system.

The Simplex device is a white box mounted on the back wall of the cabinet, with multiple wires connected to it. This component is part of the network that monitors and controls the fire alarm system in your building. The wires connected to it likely lead to various sensors, alarms, and possibly to a central monitoring service. The Simplex unit would process signals from fire detection devices and then activate the necessary alarms or notifications according to the system's design.

The photo shows several wires with wire nuts, which are typically used to secure wire connections. Some wires appear to have wire nuts properly attached, but there are also exposed wire ends without caps, which could potentially be live depending on the configuration and whether power is supplied to them. Exposed electrical wires always present a risk of electric shock, which can lead to injury or even be fatal if someone were to come into contact with them, especially if the system is active and those wires are carrying current.

Additionally, there are other concerns with such setups:

• Fire Hazard: Improperly managed or unprotected electrical connections can overheat or spark, leading to a fire risk.
• System Reliability: Exposed wires are vulnerable to damage, which can affect the reliability of the fire alarm system or other critical building infrastructure.
• Code Violations: Electrical and fire safety codes typically require all connections to be insulated and protected to prevent accidental contact.

Leaving electrical wires exposed, even in a system that is not yet fully operational, is generally not considered best practice for several reasons:

• Safety: Even if the system is not operational, circuits can become energized during testing or by accident, posing a shock hazard to workers and others who may come into contact with the exposed wires.
• Damage: Exposed wires are more susceptible to damage from construction activities, environmental factors, or tampering, which could result in faults or short circuits when the system is eventually energized.
• Regulatory Compliance: Building codes and safety regulations may require that all electrical systems be left in a safe state at all times, even during construction or installation.
• Professional Standards: Leaving wiring exposed in this manner could be considered unprofessional, as it suggests poor workmanship and a lack of regard for ongoing safety.

Best practice would dictate that any non-active wires should be safely capped and stowed to prevent accidental contact. If the system is going to be left in an incomplete state for an extended period, it would be prudent to take measures to ensure safety and code compliance. This could include:

• Capping all unused wires.
• Securing wires to prevent contact.
• Clear labeling of wires to indicate their status (e.g., live, neutral, not in use).
• Ensuring that any energized parts of the system are clearly marked and protected

However, the wiring appears disorganized and not neatly bundled, which could be a sign of poor installation or maintenance practices. It's important for safety systems to be well organized and maintained to ensure reliable operation.

In several places electronic equipment is left without any covering.

15th floor

4th floor

2nd floor

Front door sensor with no casing

rear door sensor (non-functional)