City says it's focused on reducing fire risk at vacant properties

A recent fire at the vacant Dickson Bowl property on Ainslie Street highlighted the constant effort required by the city's fire department and bylaw staff to check on vacant buildings and ensure access points aren't being breached.

At a Cambridge city council meeting on March 28, fire chief Brian Arnold said the department's vacant property program couldn't be more timely. 

"Our crews will go around the city, have a look and keep an eye on identified vacant buildings and make sure they are secured and there are no developments that should not be happening," Arnold told council, reassuring the public that they are aware of the dangers. 

With over 40 vacant buildings on Cambridge Fire Department's watch, crews will go around once a month to make sure the buildings have no visible entry points or damage that could pose further risk to the public. 

Chief fire prevention officer, Eric Yates, said their vacant property program helps protect the properties and their owners, but also those who might be sleeping inside or taking up unauthorized residency in the buildings. 

"So we will go around and make sure things like security fences are up and boards are on windows and doors. We are really looking for any signs of forced entry or things that don't look normal," Yates said. 

The program operates on a monthly basis and will see all 40 properties have a full walk-around to ensure they are not inhabited by people. The program encompasses both city owned and private properties. 

Yates acknowledges that not every check-up will catch those living in these buildings.

According to CFD, the fire at Dickson Bowl was determined to have happened when unauthorized people were living in the old bowling alley.

"When we did our drive by, there weren't any signs of people living in the building, but it is important that if the public sees something they report it to the city," added Yates. 

The city has an online reporting tool and encourages residents to use it to report anything that might be a concern, including suspected squatters. 

Yates said the fire department has a legal responsibility to notify a property owner of any signs of a breach in the security gates or other measures put up by the property owner. 

"We issue an order under the fire code to secure the property and if they don't, there might be legal proceedings that will affect how insurance will cover the damage," he said. 

If the property owner doesn't secure the property and a risk to the public is presented, then the city will hire security to watch over the property and the extra cost will be added to the owner's property tax. 

CFD recognizes those living in vacant homes are just trying to get out of the elements and be in a place that is warm and safe, but the notion that an abandoned building is safe couldn't be more untrue, said Yates. 

"It's really important that people know just how dangerous it can be in one of these properties," he added. "These buildings have no hydro or utilities and are often not structurally sound."

Squatters are not the only ones found in these buildings; there are often signs of people going into these properties who don't plan on living there, but are just hanging out and are curious. Urban explorers who take risks while trespassing has become an issue and a liability for many municipalities, including Cambridge.

"We see fairly regularly that it looks like some teenagers or whoever have been inside, using the building as a hangout, but they need to know the dangers that are present in these spaces." 

The CFD want to do as much as they can to protect those who might be living in these spaces and those who live next to them. 

"We just want everyone to be safe, but know that if there is a fire, we will always be there to protect the community," said Yates.