Home Fires

Squatting and smoke don't mix:

Vacant Hollywood home burns down after string of fires allegedly caused by squatters A vacant Hollywood home burned down Thursday, one week after FOX 11 was first to report on homeless squatters taking over the building. Thursday morning’s destructive blaze along the 1700 block of Wilton was the fourth fire at the location in about two weeks. “It’s almost comical,” said Jeanne Rice, a neighbor. “I’m kind of laughing a little bit, because it’s like a joke. We’ve been tortured over it.” Rice is one of several neighbors on Wilton who have complained to city officials for months about two vacant homes on the street taken over by squatters. Nearby residents have reported public drug use, constant nudity, large fires, and a general disregard for laws. “If there are abandoned buildings on the street, they can’t be lying there for like a year without being knocked down,” said Carolita Blythe, another neighbor. “Because, people without homes are going to go into the buildings.”

When squatters move into the neighborhood, everyone gets burned...