Local News

Vacant Buildings Put Lawrence Fire Crews On Guard

LAWRENCE (WBZ) ― Structure fires are a big concern in Lawrence after a meltdown in the housing market has left many buildings in the city vacant.

In the late 80's and early 90's, Lawrence was the arson capital of New England because so many buildings were left abandoned.

There have been a string of fires in the city recently, putting fire officials on guard.

An athletic club turned church turned vacant building, says Lawrence Fire Captain Perry Dinatale, is now a casualty of young people playing with lighters.

The Sunday night fire went to four alarms, jeopardizing adjacent homes, and while no one was hurt, it was the kind of fire that's worrisome to veteran firefighters like Dinatale.

"The biggest fear is it will go back to what happened in the late 80's and early 90's when properties burned because so many were abandoned," he said.

Dinatale said he remembers it well.

"You go home on your day shift and invariably the phone would ring and you'd get called back to work because another building would be burning," he said.

Now, according to the fire department, there are 250 vacant properties in Lawrence and 600 in various stages of foreclosure.

"When you go by property that's been abandoned, once you see a broken window, that's the start," Dinatale said. "Once you see a broken window, that means, it's almost like a calling card that no one's watching the building. No one tending to the building."

Fire officials are watching out as best they can and hoping a bad piece of history won't repeat itself.

There are more signs of trouble in the housing industry. New home construction fell nearly 25 percent in 2005, which has been the largest drop in 27 years.

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