Smoke alarms were triggered at the start of the fire but “occupants failed to respond,” the fire report says. The fire deaths have triggered multiple investigations about lax or non-existent provincial standards governing group and foster homes run by private companies. An average of 15,625 Ontario children, who were taken from their parents due to neglect or abuse, were placed in foster and group homes in 2014-15. Between 3,000 and 4,000 are in for-profit foster homes, where regulations limit the number to four children and youth. Another 3,000 are in for-profit group homes that typically house eight or more kids.

Source: thestar June 12, 2017 23:02 UTC