After numerous fires, neighbors want abandoned east-side buildings secured
A damaging fire resulted in an emergency demolition overnight. It isn't an entirely new situation for frustrated neighbors. A fire that destroyed a vacant building in San Antonio has led to an emergency demolition following concerns about the safety of the building. The property, which has been reduced to rubble after the fire, has been red-tagged by the city and ordered to clean up what remains after an emergency job related to the fire damage. Neighbors have been fearful of the vacant building due to its habit of burning, attracting homeless people seeking shelter. The city's 3-1-1 help center director stated that both buildings have open cases with code compliance and that each case has its own challenges due to due process. They encourage property owners to bring buildings up to standards and use demolition as a last resort.
게시됨 : 4주 전 ~에 의해 Sue Calberg ~에
A damaging fire resulted in an emergency demolition overnight. It isn't an entirely new situation for frustrated neighbors.
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SAN ANTONIO — Smoke and flames were visible in the distance as the first fire company called to the 1500 block of South Hackberry was en route at about 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Fire department radio chatter indicated the fire was significant, threatening nearby structures. More than once, firefighters were cautioned to keep their trucks away from the building due to the possibility of collapsing walls.
Because of the danger, it was a defensive fire fight, with all the work being done from the outside of the structure.
Now reduced to rubble after the fire, the property has been red-tagged by the city with an order to clean up what remains after an emergency middle-of-the-night demolition job related to the fire damage.
Neighbors who came out to survey the damage said they have been afraid of the vacant building because it attracts homeless people looking for shelter. Juan Lara, who lives a few houses down the street, said an abandoned barber shop next to the destroyed structure has burned three or four times. The building lost Wednesday night, meanwhile, has burned about six times in the past.
"All the neighbors, we are scared because they are always burning," Lara said, adding many of the fires have happened at night while residents are asleep, increasing the danger. "The flames are high and it scares the neighbors."
A pastor at a nearby church said he has talked to police about the continuing problem but hasn't noticed a change in the danger level caused by people gaining access to the building for shelter.
Patrick Dennette owns a T-shirt business across the street and remembers the former barber shop burning one night in February. He said he drove by to survey the scene after a friend called him and asked if his business was on fire.
With regard to the people who get into the building illegally, Dennette said he would like to see more regular inspections.
The city's 3-1-1 help center director says both buildings have open cases with code compliance. Code requires property owners to secure vacant buildings, but they said each case has its own challenges.
Property owners have the right to due process, so it takes time to get court orders to force non-compliant owners to follow the law. They also said they encourage property owners to bring buildings up to standards and use the concept of demolition only as a last resort.
In the meantime, they encourage anyone who has a problem with a vacant structure to report through the 3-1-1 system, noting it's not always effective to assume someone else has reported an issue.