TORONTO

A massive clean-up is finally underway at the condemned Davisville home of a hoarder who has lived on his porch with feral cats amid stacks of his belongings for the last 18 months.

Toronto Fire Service sought a Superior Court order to board up the house at 313 Manor Rd., near Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Eglinton Ave. E., in 2012 after more than a year of trying to convince the home’s occupant to reduce the excessive amount of combustible material inside.

“We have worked with the resident, but he has not met the standard for compliance for fire protection in the home,” Division Chief Jim Stoops said Thursday.

He said it was especially concerning because it is a semi-detached house and there has been reports the occupant was using candles as a heat and light source.

Hazmat teams donned white suits and gas masks to make sure the house was safe for work crews to start cleaning it out, a process that is expected to take several days.

Neighbours have monitored the situation closely, anxious for the city to step in but also concerned for the well-being of Dennis, the resident.

“It’s a very sad situation,” said Peggy Barusta, who lives across the street. “I feel very badly for Dennis.”

Neighbours routinely check on Dennis, bringing him food, blankets and clothing.

And they’ve been especially worried since he began living on his porch surrounded by boxes and other clutter piled floor-to-ceiling.

“He doesn’t seem to have a better solution,” Barusta said. “He wants to stay there.”

Her dishevelled neighbour was on his porch Thursday voicing his displeasure at the presence of the hazardous material unit and other emergency services vehicles lining the street.

Area residents received a letter recently from their City Councillor Josh Matlow warning that Toronto Police, Toronto Fire, animal services, municipal licensing and standards and public health officials would be at the home this week.

“Over the next few weeks, I will work with city staff to ensure that the place is cleaned to a level that Dennis can return to the inside of his home or public health will determine that the dwelling is unfit for occupancy,” Matlow wrote.

Barusta and others are grateful the city finally stepped in to deal with the fire hazard.

“It’s been more than an eyesore,” she said, explaining there is also a stench emanating from the house.

Several neighbours also complained Dennis’ cats are a nuisance.

Stoops said Toronto Fire deals with 50 to 100 hoarders in the city annually, but only a few require such drastic intervention.

“This has been a very difficult case,” he said. “And that’s why it has come to this.”