DETROIT – The city of Detroit's head of building safety responded to an extremely damaged home firefighters found in southwest Detroit, but that's when things got interesting.
There's someone living in the home, and he owns the building.
"I cannot believe it's still standing," said Roberto Romero, of the Detroit Fire Department. "It's fallen. It's collapsed onto itself."
A week ago, the home that once burned is wide open, listing to one side.
"Strong winds will take this thing down," Romero said.
When Romero's crew told him that someone lives in the home, he was surprised.
"You've got to be kidding me," Romero said. "(There's) no way someone is living in there. He says, 'I'm not lying, I'll show you.'"
Romero showed Local 4's Shawn Ley the home, saying there are no floors and no roof.
Romero said the man lives in the back, where a tarp serves as a roof. He lives in a top back room, which is accessible only by ladder.
The home's garage was on fire, and when firefighters who were battling the fire looked up, a man was staring back at them.
"This is extremely dangerous," Romero said. "If this place is on fire, unfortunately, we are going to have to go in and get him out."
Firefighters said they know the man as Frank. His real name is Ray.
"The house isn't breaking the law," Ray said. "It's bothering you?"
He owns the house and pays taxes on it. A court ordered him to fix the home, and it's on an emergency demolition list.
"We just want to make sure you're safe," firefighters said. Ray told them it was none of their business.
Romero said he has to make sure every firefighter knows that if the house burns, a very dangerous rescue will have to take place.
"This place is going to go down quick," Romero said.
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