Mold infested apartments hit by arson fire

April 3, 2002

Tuesday, april 2, 2002

By Puente / Post-Tribune staff writer

HAMMOND - Fire officials say arson is to blame for a Monday morning blaze

inside three units of the River Park Apartments, which had been closed in

February due to a mold problem.

The 30-unit building at 3008 177th St., was ordered closed by the city's

health department because of concerns with mold, but was in the process of

being renovated.

Although the units were supposed to be vacant with their doors boarded up,

that didn't stop someone from gaining access to the dwelling and starting

the fire.

" The utilities had been shut off. The fire had to have a heat source. It

would have to be introduced, " Senior Fire Capt. Bill Cook said Monday. " The

puzzling part is that it was locked up tighter than a drum. Whoever did it

took the time to put back whatever they removed to have access.

Cook declined to say what was used to spark the blaze. Some evidence

collected has been forwarded to the state fire marshal's office for

examination.

" We're pretty confident it's arson, " Cook said.

Dean , manager of the 28-building apartment complex just off Kennedy

Avenue and Interstate 94, could not be reached for comment.

Officials with Groach & Associates, the Dallas, Texas-based owners of the

complex, also could not be reached for comment.

Cook said the fire was confined to two second-floor apartment units in the

building. However, a first-floor apartment suffered some ceiling damage due

to the blaze above it.

Fire officials did not place a cost damage estimate to the building.

Seven fire rigs were called to the scene, which was put out before 9 a.m.

" Our fire crews did an excellent job in containing the fire to the two

apartments, " Cook said. " If the fire had gotten into the walls, it could

have vented and traveled. "

River Park Apartments have been the subject of numerous complaints from

tenants for the past few years.

Some tenants have complained to building managers and the city about

respiratory problems, a side effect of exposure to mold.

Reporter Puente can be reached at 648-3079 or by e-mail at

mpuente@....

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