Published: June 17, 2008 10:03 pm            

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM: Gasport house damaged in fire is still standing

GASPORT — A Main Street house in Gasport that was heavily damaged by a fire in February is a nasty sight for residents.

A resident called the Union-Sun & Journal and said the house burned in February and still hasn’t been demolished. It’s unsightly, smells bad and animals are living in the structure, the caller said.

The house has an enormous hole where the roof is falling in and the windows are currently boarded up.

Thomas Arlington, assessor for the Town of Royalton where Gasport is located, said the town is aware of the problem and is working on it. Arlington heads the department of assessment, building inspection and zoning enforcement. The problem, he said, is finding the homeowner.

“We just talked about it,” Arlington said. “We’re trying to locate the owner, and we have sent two letters to him. We don’t know where he is.”

Arlington said the homeowner has spoken to the town in the past about it and seemed willing to either find a buyer or have the house demolished. He added there is a notice on the building.

In order for the house to be demolished by the town, a hearing has to be held, and the town would pay for the demolition. Arlington said the town would rather have the owner voluntarily have it demolished.

“We’re working on it and keeping after it,” he said.

The two-story house caught on fire Feb. 13; no one was in the house at the time the blaze started. Although no one was hurt, two dogs were reportedly killed. The house was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived, and smoke could be seen for miles away. Fire police closed off the nearby intersection with Route 31 as firefighters worked for more than an hour to put the fire out.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.