Firefighters Die in Chicago When Roof Collapses
It’s been so sad reading about the 2 firefighters who died in Chicago when the roof of a boarded up building collapsed on Wednesday. The owner had been cited for numerous code violations in 2007, especially for the roof. The building was boarded up but squatters kept breaking in. The firefighters were inside the building checking for people when this happened. The reason for the collapse of the roof has not yet been determined. Too many of these neglected buildings present a hazard for emergency responders. Owners claim they don’t have enough money to fix the buildings and it can take years for the courts to order them demolished. I know I keep preaching to the choir but these buildings don’t get in this type of shape overnight. Minor violations need to be addressed before they become big ones. It cost less to keep a property up than it does to bring it back from the abyss of deterioration.
