Hoarders - General Discussion - Page 6 - Hoarders

I think the house should have been condemned by the town government (or county, or whoever has jurisdiction), which would mean that Linda could move back in only after code inspectors had approved lifting the condemnation. And I'm the one who fantasized about flamethrowers as I watched that mess on my TV. 

But, here's a reality check on just how lengthy, complicated, and expensive it can be for a town to take action against a private residential structure that's hoarded/rundown to the point of being a nuisance and unsafe for habitation: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/littleton-neighbors-believe-man-burned-his-own-home-as-city-considers-demolition/73-4e04e737-73da-4066-85f9-853ab51196e6

The case has been going on for something like 12 years, the house was condemned, and in January the board heard FOUR HOURS of testimony on whether it should order the house demolished. Neighbors had experienced rat infestations emanating from the hoard house and some feared the homeowner. The board's order was expected to be issued yesterday, and day before yesterday the house burned. Neighbors suspect the homeowner torched it.

Latest news is that the homeowner's whereabouts are unknown. Oh, and in an interesting quirk of fate? The house fire was called in to 911 earlier than it would normally have been. Because the PIO of the fire district lives in the neighborhood. His wife was returning home in the early morning hours from her 911 dispatch job and saw a smoky haze in the neighborhood, so she and the PIO went looking for - and found - the fire. FB story here: https://www.facebook.com/SouthMetroFireRescue/videos/530155530842817/

As easy as it is for me to sit in front of my TV and say, the city should condemn and demolish a house, it's rarely simple, straightforward, or prompt to do that. Think, years of proceedings and quite a bit of local government resources taken up by the case. 

ncG1vNJzZmien6fCrr%2BNqamipZWptq6x0WeaqKVfqbyxtcJob3JvYWh6qbvAq5ueqqNkvaKzxGhtaA%3D%3D