The process of tearing down a fire-ravaged house on Hiram Street in Wallaceburg, continues to move forward.
Erin Merritt, a by-law enforcement officer with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, told the Sydenham Current that an Order to Demolish was mailed out to all parties on title on Friday, June 30 and the order was also posted up on the property the same day.
Merritt said the owner has until July 21 to appeal the order.
“If we receive an Appeal, a hearing will be conducted sometime in August,” she said, adding that a potential hearing would delay any further action at the property.
“I will be re-inspecting the property on July 25 to ensure compliance, meaning the house, accessory building and all debris has been removed from the property leaving it in a clean, level and graded condition. If we do not receive an appeal, and if the property is not cleaned up, after the 25th of July, the Municipality will be moving forward with tendering out the demolition.”
Merritt said she had previously ordered the tall grass and weeds on the property to be cut by Public Works.
Wallaceburg firefighters responded to a blaze at the property back on April 22.
House fire on Hiram Street in #Wallaceburg 🔥@ckfiredept – More to come. pic.twitter.com/5AzzgsPmFW
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 22 April 2017
The Criminal Investigations Unit of the Chatham-Kent Police Service recently wrapped up their investigation into the fire.
It had been investigated as an arson.
Police officials said there was insufficient evidence to charge any suspects in the case.
Damage was pegged at $100,000.
Several neighbours in the Hiram Street area contacted the Sydenham Current, complaining about the condition of the property after the fire.
Knee-high grass, rotten food in the backyard, mattresses lying around and rodents and raccoons fighting at night were some of the complaints.
A sign was also hammered into the ground, which read ‘Shame on C-K’.
One neighbour said the Municipality was called multiple times over the past few months since the fire.
“It’s a mosquito haven right now,” another neighbour said.
“It’s disgusting… it’s an eyesore.”
Here is more of our coverage:
– Demolition order being placed for Hiram Street home
– Update: $100,000 damage after Hiram Street blaze
– Arson investigation after Hiram Street blaze in Wallaceburg
– House fire on Hiram Street in Wallaceburg (Video, Photos)
– Photo credit: Aaron Hall
