SAN DIEGO — Squatters occupied a torched building in North Park
Flames shot out of a known squatter home in North Park just before 6 a.m. Tuesday. For neighbors, it was good news.
“I'm happy nobody got hurt, but I'm happy as hell that the fire happened because the City can't ignore this,” said neighbor Andy Laub. “A fire is about as dangerous as it gets.”
Laub is one of several neighbors who, for months, have been complaining about the two abandoned homes at the end of Dale street.
“Drug trafficking, sex trafficking, people moving in and out and these are all squatters and people who obviously aren't paying rent in these homes,” he said.
Working For You, CBS 8 looked into property records and discovered both homes in the 3300 block of Dale Street are owned by the same person who, despite numerous requests from police to do so, has refused to sign the necessary paperwork giving officers the power to make arrests on the property.
“We are working with the owner today,” said San Diego Police Lt. Luis Carbajal. “Hopefully we can make some efforts getting that paperwork signed so we have legal authority to enforce any issues - any potential crimes happening inside the building or on the property.”
Surveillance video obtained by CBS 8 shows a multiple people leaving the property with their belongings as the fire grew.
“A couple of them came by me and asked me to dial 911,” said Erin Browder who lives in the area and was exercising outside when the fire started.
Firefighters say flames and thick smoke were shooting out of the home when they arrived, but no people were still on the property. They quickly knocked down the flames, but the fire still did so much damage that the house was red tagged - meaning it's not safe for anyone to go inside.
There is definitely concern that the squatters will be back.
“I already see guys circling the neighborhood, waiting to get back in,” Laub said. “So as soon as all the buzz goes down, I know that they're going to be back in there and it's going to continue.”
Crews boarded up the house to keep people out and they put up multiple warning signs, but the other property next door only suffered minor damage creating concern that the squatters will simply move over there.
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