PHILADELPHIA – Citing the lack of a fire alarm, among other code violations, an L&I inspector had evacuated the second floor of a Frankford area commercial building being unlawfully operated as a residence ten weeks before the building was consumed by a fire that also destroyed several neighboring homes. The Philadelphia Fire Department announced today that the source of the blaze was a wood stove or heater in the commercial building. Commissioner David Perri expressed relief, noting that if not for the decisive action of the inspector, tenants could have been in the building when the fast-moving, wind-aided fire broke out on February 13, 2016.
The space being rented to tenants had holes in the ceiling and floor, crumbling walls, insect and rodent infestation, significant plumbing leaks, lacked required life protection systems, and was missing a window. The building owner did not have a rental license and the space was not zoned for use as a residential rental property. Upon discovering the illegal rental, an L&I inspector issued violations and warned the owner of his obligation to bring the property into compliance with code.
“The outcome the Department tries to achieve is for the space to be made legal and brought up to code so that it becomes a fit place to live,” Commissioner Perri explained. “If the residents had good options they wouldn’t tolerate the terrible living conditions; they’d have already gone elsewhere.” Perri noted that the City Office of Supportive Housing is a resource when it does become necessary to remove residents from unfit homes for their own protection.
When subsequent visits to the Frankford property revealed no improvement, the L&I inspector and her supervisor concluded that the situation could not be allowed to persist. To give them an opportunity to find alternative housing, tenants were given advance notice that the residential use would soon be ended or “ceased”.
Two weeks later the inspector returned, ensured that the last resident was out of the building, and closed the space down, posting a large, highly visible red and white striped “cease order” on the door announcing that residential occupancy of the building was prohibited as of December 10, 2016. As is standard practice, the inspector then alerted the police about the cease order so that the police could assist in enforcement.
“The L&I inspector was thorough and persistent and used good professional judgment in evacuating the illegal rental space,” said Perri. “Especially with no fire alarm there, her actions may have saved lives.”