Sorry. The news of the fire Saturday morning is still the top story around here. I’ll try to have some happier news tomorrow. I’ve lived in rentals around this area for nearly twenty years, and some weren’t in very good shape. I guess you could say it’s a topic that hits fairly close to home for me, in more ways than just geographically.
- Ashes, tears and questions about the house fire near my neighborhood from the MN Daily. There are also profiles of the three who were killed in the fire: Brian Heiden, Amanda Speckien and Elizabeth Wencl.
- Campus, families cope with deaths mentions that there were also two women rescued from the basement, beyond the ones mentioned in yesterday’s news articles. When I walked past the house Saturday, I didn’t notice and obvious signs of a basement apartment, but it wouldn’t surprise me. It’s something done in many properties owned by the Eischens, usually without a permit visible.
- City, U plan steps on student housing in wake of fire that killed 3 is the Strib’s take, and doesn’t mention anyone in the basement, either. But it does mention that we’ll probably be seeing an inspections sweep through the neighborhood sometime soon. Between that and having a new inspector working the area already, I think there are going to be a lot of busy landlords for the next year or two as places get brought back up to code. [strib]