Illegal basement apartment fire raises questions

This morning's Courier has a story on a fire at 127 and 129 Johnston Avenue which left 13 people homeless because all four apartments in the building were declared uninhabitable until further notice.

Basement apartments -- as the late Jocelyn Pringley told PT many times -- are illegal in Plainfield.

So, we have a couple of questions seeking answers--

• Is this a legal 4-family structure?
• Was the owner/landlord issued a Certificate of Compliance for the basement apartment?
• When was its last Fire Safety inspection and was the illegal basement apartment noted?

As PT asked in light of the Council's repeal of the Safe Homes initiative (see "HEADS-IN-SAND DEPT."), who is going to accept responbility when the -- inevitable -- fatality occurs. Yesterday's fire is just a warning. Is anybody listening?


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