Posts in Fire Hazard
Remedying a Deadly Combination of Hoarding and Faulty Wiring

We were appointed to tackle the extreme amount of items stored inside this single family home. Hoarding is usually also associated with property degradation as the surplus of belongings make it difficult to clean the property or take care of any homeowner issues that arise with normal wear and tear. Combined with the fact that the large number of items themselves can damage a building, not properly maintaining it is a recipe for greater and greater deterioration that can culminate in significant structural damage. This property was no exception and, as the Court Appointed Health and Safety Receiver, we found structural deficiencies so severe that the building needed to be demolished.

Read More
Health and Safety Receivership is Used to Abate a Wildfire Danger

Officials in a northern California County, prone to dangerous wildfires, contacted CRG after a property owner within its boundaries refused to address serious code violations at their home. Infractions included masses of dried leaves, accumulated junk, and dead shrubbery surrounding the property. Most significant were six large, dead trees, which were clumped together, leaning directly against the house. The unmaintained landscaping had the potential to magnify even a small fire, with the trees providing a potential ladder, helping to push any fire up and into the house. All that was needed for the unkempt property to turn deadly was the strike of a match, or a spark of wildfire. This would have endangered not only the owner, but neighboring properties, as well; the problems on-site reached far across the lot, enabling any fire to spread to the neighborhood.

Read More