Vernon motel hit with fire code violations after WorkSafeBC fine for mould, rodents

A motel in Vernon has been dealing with a series of violations, and Vernon Fire Rescue Services have added more to the pile. 

The well-known Tiki Village Motor Inn has been hit with fines for fire code violations in October and November, according to a press release from the City of Vernon issued today, Nov. 19. 

Vernon Fire Rescue said it has been working with the motel’s property management to deal with the code violations for several months, but the fire prevention officer issued the fines after management didn’t fix the issues. 

“During an inspection last week, the property owner notified all tenants residing at the motel that they would be required to vacate the premises,” the city said in the release.

“Vernon Fire Rescue Services has not issued any orders to evict residents or close the building. Our directives have focused solely on ensuring that fire code violations and safety concerns are properly addressed and corrected.”

The motel was recently fined $1,250 by WorkSafeBC for several problems including a leaking roof, mould, rat feces and not training staff to deal with violent incidents. 

“The employer stated violence is a concern at this workplace. There have been past incidents where the police had been called to provide assistance,” the WorkSafeBC inspection report says. “The employer had not conducted a violence risk assessment, did not have policies or procedures in place, and had not trained workers in the prevention of violence.”

The motel, owned by Vermex Investments, is for sale as part of a land assembly which includes six nearby homes. The listed price for the 60-year-old motel is $6 million.