EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – Uncertainty continues over what should happen next to the Pear Cleaners building that caught fire last year.
Joe Atkinson, Mayor Stephanie Terry's communications director, says the building is unsafe, and that proved to be true after a man was trapped under a collapsed chimney at the site and needed rescue Thursday night.
Investigators are unable to determine what the person was doing there in the first place, and that may be unclear over the next couple of days.
Atkinson says he's been in meetings with the building commissioner about what should happen.
Some of those decisions that need to be made are still up in the air.
“I don't want to speculate on what options we might have now,” Atkinson said. “Because we are looking for safe legal remedies that can address this situation as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, Atkinson understands the city's building commissioner has been unable to reach the building's owner.
“We have been trying to reach the property owner, and we continue to try to reach the property owner because — ideally, obviously — they will work with us to find that solution as quickly, safely and legally as possible.” Atkinson said.
Firefighters on scene Thursday night hope the situation serves as a reminder of what can happen when exploring abandoned buildings.
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