The St. Thomas city council has told staff to draft a vacant buildings by-law after a string of fires in 2025 renewed concerns about empty and damaged properties in the city. The proposed rules would require owners to register vacant buildings with the city and provide emergency contact information and basic details about the condition of the property.
Fire Chief Dave Gregory proposed the idea, saying the registry would give police and firefighters better information when they respond to calls at vacant sites. Owners would also have to keep submitting confirmation that buildings are secured, weather-tight and meeting required standards.
The push follows the July 6, 2025 fire that destroyed the Acacia Block at 618-626 Talbot Street, a heritage building built in 1881. A second Talbot Street fire on December 18, 2025, damaged a 143-year-old building at 515 Talbot Street, where crews rescued two people from upper-level windows and nine people were permanently displaced.
In April 2025, a fire at the former Weatherhead Company of Canada plant on Woodworth Avenue caused about $2 million in damage. Gregory said the by-law would help emergency crews respond more safely while also discouraging long-term vacancy and encouraging redevelopment of blighted properties.
