Vacant Home Burned Down
105 views · Published 18 July 2012 · 2:03 · Indexed 10 November 2026
Channel: Dayton 24/7 Now · 2012 · News & Politics
DAYTON -- A vacant home that caught fire back in April and was demolished by the city, is still sitting on the property.The home on East Third Street caught the two homes on either side of it on fire as well.But the debris has people living nearby concerned."That is dangerous all the rubble," said Lodia Furnas, Neighborhood Association President, "People going back and forth from the alley to the street through the rubble."She's worried about asbestos."It could go right out into the air and people breath it in," she said.But the city says the only way that can happen is if someone moved boards or other debris."When it's just laying in a pile of debris it's usually not a hazard," said Dennis Zimmer, Acting Nuisance Abatement Supervisor.According to the city, there are 72 fire damaged structures that need to be demolished.The home on East Third was an emergency case, and was immediately torn down.The debris hasn't been removed because the city is in waiting game."Funds to free up on the current contract that covers that area," said Kevin Powell, Acting Housing Inspector for the City of Dayton.He says the fire damaged homes cost the city more money."When you have a fire the asbestos co-mingles with other materials," he said.That means it costs more for the removal, but the city is dependent on federal, state and local funds."We can't gut our police department, or our fire department, or our public works department just to tear down properties," said Powell.But for Lodia the wait is too long."You don't know what kind of dangers lies beneath the rubble," she said.The city housing inspector says he hopes to have the debris removed from East Third Street in the next three months.
