'It's going to kill somebody': Neighbours push for burned-out northeast Calgary home to be cleaned up
When flames started consuming the back of a home in Calgary's northeast neighbourhood of Falconridge in December, neighbours made sure everyone got out safely.
Now, six months later, they just want the damaged and abandoned property cleaned up.
"The garage is ready to fall down. It's going to kill somebody," said Don Penner, who lives near the home on Falshire Close N.E.
Neighbours say the owner can't afford to pay to fix or clean up the home and property.
"The poor guy's got no money, no insurance, so he's limited in what he can do. Basically we haven't seen him now," Penner said.
CTV News has been unable to get in contact with the owner of the property and cell phone numbers listed under the man's name have been disconnected. The city says it’s having trouble serving the owner with a cleanup order, too.
The back of the home has been fenced off, but the front of the home remains accessible and open.
Charred, broken and rusted debris is piled up and its fence is falling over. People have been breaking into the home to steal what's left inside, neighbours say, and some people also use the damaged home as a hangout.
"We've been chasing people almost, I would say, on a daily basis now – just snooping around in the house, stealing some stuff or throwing garbage in there," said Jose Lallana, who lives nearby.
"People are coming through here, middle of the night, stealing copper, breaking things down," Penner added.
"Young kids are coming through here... all the time."
CITY COULD STEP IN EVENTUALLY
The city does have the ability to take over a property due to safety concerns, but it's a process that takes a lot of time.
"We do need to work with the owner and give him as much time to resolve the issues as possible," said Cliff de Jong, the city's issues management coordinator.
"Suffice it to say, the time has just dragged on too long," de Jong said.
He added that the city could consider hiring security to check on the property while waiting for the property owner to clean it up.
Neighbours just hope something is done before someone is injured.
"We're willing to help this guy out and help the city out, but we're only limited to what we can do as neighbours," said Lallana.
"It's just... it's getting dangerous."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.