Empty buildings higher risk for fires

Downtown has seen its share

TEXARKANA — A rash of fires in downtown Texarkana recently has brought attention to buildings that remain empty for long periods of time.

Texarkana Texas Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Chris Black said old buildings are always a concern for potential fires.

“They are definitely a vulnerability. Owners do repairs and board them up but they can only do so much,” he said.

On June 17, an early morning fire destroyed a vacant building at West Broad and Spruce streets that had served as a furniture store in years past. Texarkana. Texas, firefighters and one unit from the Texarkana Arkansas Fire Department were able to contain the fire to the original building.

Black said many fires in buildings downtown are started by people but it is unclear if the fires are set accidentally or intentionally.

“We know they were caused by a human being because there is no electricity on in vacant buildings. All of these buildings have had homeless in them at one time or another.”

Just a couple of days after the fire on Broad Street, firefighters responded to a blaze at an abandoned building on South State Line Avenue in Texarkana, Arkansas.

That fire remains under investigation, said Texarkana Arkansas Fire Chief David Fletcher.

He said that unfortunately many empty buildings draw the attention of vagrants or criminal activity.

It is also harder to insure a building that stands empty for a while.

“It generally varies from company to company but it’s a higher risk with higher premiums,” said

said Texarkana State Farm Insurance Agent Derrick McGary.

Premiums usually vary depending on how long the property will be vacant, if repairs or renovations are taking place during the time of coverage and how secure the property is.

“They are higher risk because more things can happen when a building is left unattended. Often times if there is a fire, they are not reported as fast if they are empty,” McGary said.

Both TAFD and TTFD have fire stations downtown and the proximity to recent structure fires has been helpful, officials said.

“That certainly helps,” Fletcher said. “These stations were built a long time ago when downtown was a hub of activity. Of course, downtown has seen a little growth in recent years so there is more going on now.”

TLC Burgers and Fries on Broad Street in downtown Texarkana also caught fire last weekend but is not considered suspicious, according to fire officials.

The restaurant, located at 201 E. Broad St., received some fire damage and heavy smoke damage shortly after 8 p.m. June 19.

Investigators believe the fire started near the air conditioning unit in the restaurant’s kitchen, Fletcher said.