Firefighters think a fire that badly damaged a former nursing home on the city's northeast side this morning may have been another case of squatters taking over abandoned structures, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
A dozen fire units were called to the 4700 block of Goldfield, which is off Rittiman Rd, at 3:15 this morning.When they arrived, they found flames shooting out of the roof of the building.
Firefighters had no immediate word on any injuries. They say arson officials are investigating, because the city has had a rash of cases where homeless people and drug users break into abandoned buildings, and occasionally they start fires to keep warm.
Several abandoned homes on the city's west side have been damaged or desroryed by arson fires set by squatters in the past several months.