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'Secure it immediately': Baltimore vacant home remains unsecured 24+ hours after fire

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Posted at 10:07 PM, May 09, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-12 08:32:21-04

BALTIMORE — More that 24 hours after a fire broke out at a vacant home at 325 Furrow Street, the property remains wide open.

The fire originally broke out in the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood in Southwest Baltimore Sunday around 7:21 p.m. 

“Secure it as soon as possible,” said neighbor Kevin Jones. "Secure it immediately because if they’re unsecured, people are to find a way inside and make a home.” 

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And that’s reportedly what happened.

Neighbors said prior to the fire four people and a dog were living inside. 

“Again, secure them up front to back,” said Jones. “They used to cement them.”

RELATED: Man with gunshot wounds found dead in vacant rowhouse fire

It’s a safety issue WMAR-2 News has reported on and one the city says it takes seriously.

But when our cameras showed up Monday, only a Department of Public Works cleanup crew was on site. 

RELATED: Baltimore Fire crews pull body from burning vacant home on Thursday

“You think they would send out a cleanup and a boarding crew at the same time,” said one person who didn’t want to be identified.

“If you’re not going to come out at the same time at least board it up so that it’s secure,” said Jordan Miller. “Securing it and making it safe is more important, than have the cleanup crew at a more convenient time."

RELATED: City Council discusses bill for increasing penalties for people who own vacant properties

As for the man found shot dead inside, police identified him as 35-year-old Miguel Soto Diaz.

“People having access to these places,” said Miller. "There’s a lot of violence in this area. When something is not boarded up, it leaves more opportunity for these people to go in and hideout and do things.” 

WMAR-2 News reached out to DPW about the boarding crew.

We were told given the circumstances surrounding this particular property, a crew will be out on Tuesday to secure it.