Moncton rooming house torn down after failing safety inspection

A rooming house on St. George Boulevard in Moncton was torn down onTuesday afternoon by the city'sfire prevention task force, leaving its owners scrambling for a source of income.

The building had failed to pass a safety inspection and had beenabandoned for a few months.

"We are definitely not in the business of tearing down buildings but pretty much every avenue has been exhausted and when that's the case for us, public safety is always paramount for us," said Sgt. Charles LeBlanc of the Moncton Fire Department.

• Man dies in vacant house fire in downtown Moncton
• 13 abandoned homes in Moncton already demolished this year

LeBlanc says the demolition was the last resort as no other acceptable solutions were presented to bring the building back to a habitable state.

Lyle Hogan, the owner of the building, is legally blind, which is why he said he was unable to make any repairs on time.

The house was the livelihood for Hoganand his wife and he was upset to see it go.

How do I pay my property tax now?- Lyle Hogan, owner

"I feel really depressed today. In fact, I can't even watch it being torn down," said Hogan.

"They should have gave me some extra time to fix it up and maybe help me along the way. How do I pay my property tax now?"

Annette Hogan, hiswife, said the demolition of the house is a big loss of income.

The task force is not responsible for the payment of the demolition. The Hogans will be billed later.

Another house on Cameron Street was demolished on Monday.

LeBlanc said some other properties may also have to come down in the future.

The fire prevention task force was formed in late 2014 after a homeless man died in a fire in an abandoned home in 2013.

At least 25 houses in Moncton have been torn down since the creation of the task force.