Demolition may be required for two homes and a commercial building destroyed by fire on Sunday, Altoona Fire Chief Tim Hileman said.
Hileman said no ruling has been made on the cause of fires that engulfed two homes on Lexington Avenue and a brick commercial structure containing antique cars at 18th Street and 13 Avenue.
"We have a good bit of investigating to do on both fires," Hileman said on Monday.
Altoona fire investigators have yet to conduct interviews with the three structures' owners, none of whom were injured by the fires.
Firefighters and city officials plan to further ensure public safety by determining whether the structures may collapse.
"The safety of 303 Lexington Ave. is questionable," Hileman said.
Unsupported pieces of the house may fall, but they would fall inside the house, Hileman said.
"It's not a danger to neighbors, but we don't want any one around it," he said.
Fifteen minutes after extinguishing the Lexington Avenue fires about 10:30 p.m., firefighters responded to a structure fire on 18th Street and 13th Avenue. Flames were so high by the time firefighters arrived at the scene that Hileman didn't allow his crew to enter the building. Hileman said he doubts there is evidence of the fire's origin left from the damage.
Results from examinations of the three structures planned for today could determine whether demolition is required. If the buildings must be demolished and the owners' insurance does not cover the related costs, then Altoona Fire Department leaders and city officials may consider the availability of city funding for emergency demolition, Hileman said.
