As of yesterday, the abandoned Oak Meadows Apartments have caught fire NINE times this year. This was the fourth fire this month.
Each fire response is very expensive to the City. Personnel wages, use of expensive equipment, water utilized, and the potential for injury to firemen are costly. Just importantly, these responses tie up manpower and units that may be needed in other areas of the city for EMS calls and fires.
Shreveport officials should consider a different protocol for fires at this complex and other abandoned apartments.
The fire department has responsibility to ensure that no persons are trapped in the buildings and need rescue. Another top concern is to ensure that the fires do not spread to surrounding properties.
But why worry about saving abandoned properties versus allowing them to burn down? Maybe it’s time to make some aggressive decisions that save taxpayers’ dollars.