Another illegal group home operated by Keith Charles in trouble in London

Firefighters swooped down Thursday on another unregulated home operated by Keith Charles, issuing whats called an immediate threat to life order, for fire code violations that included someone sleeping in a basement without an exit.

Under the rare order, a security guard was immediately called to the duplex at 585 Clarke Rd. operated by Charless organization People Helping People and remained there while restoration workers and fire prevention officers fixed several fire code violations.

There wasnt enough smoke alarms in the building . . . there were holes in the walls, and a tenant living in a location where they shouldnt be, deputy fire chief Gary Bridge said.

Essentially, where (the basement tenant) was living was not a suitable place for anybody to be living.

In light of the circumstances that occurred on Monday we take this very seriously.

Charles, reached later that evening, said he was pleased firefighters took action and that he wanted his clients who suffer from addictions and mental health to be safe.

On high alert after a fatal blaze in what city officials are calling an illegal group home at 1451 Oxford St. East where as many as 30 people with addictions and mental illnesses are believed to have been living in a cockroach- and bedbug-infested three storey walk-up with 12 units fire inspectors have been visiting homes on their radar since Monday, Bridge said.

The Oxford St. building was known for repeated fire code violations, and London fire inspectors had visited it and ordered fixes at least 10 times in the past year for violations. City bylaw enforcers and public health officials had also dealt with numerous complaints at the building, including reports of cockroaches, bedbugs, sewage, heating cut-offs and people sleeping in the utility room.

When the blaze broke out, crews were en route to do a fifth inspection in as many days and had already decided to seek an order to close the building. An man whose identity hasnt been released died from injuries he suffered in the fire. A second person was injured. An investigation by police and fire continues.

On Wednesday, the fire department slapped an order to close against the property owner Dharma Meetun and Charles, restricting access to the building until all necessary fixes are complete.

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Another illegal group home operated by Keith Charles in trouble in London