City Calls For Demolition Of Building Next To Warehouse Where Firefighter Died

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Are un-inspected buildings across Chicago death traps?

City attorneys order not one, but two buildings demolished after a Chicago firefighter died in one last month.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports even city attorneys were surprised at the condition of the second building. It made us wonder, how many other surprises are out there? And might they be a hazard in waiting for firefighters or anyone else who wanders inside?

Locks and demolition symbols are now on the building at 9213 South Baltimore.

Last month, firefighter Daniel Capuano died after falling, unaware, through an unprotected, open elevator shaft inside.

The city cited its owner for working without the proper permits and ordered its demolition. The owner won't fight it.

"Really, it's a matter of doing what's right and my client continues to be concerned about this tragedy," said attorney Patrick Cummings.

But the city wasn't finished, also demanding the adjacent building, at 9227 South Baltimore, be torn down.

"When they were out there they found that that property is not safe and that it needs to be closed immediately," said city attorney Kimberly Roberts.

Not only is it structurally unsafe, but city attorneys say hundreds of gallons of ammonia are being illegally stored there. It's a discovery made seemingly out of sheer coincidence.

"They were only out there to verify structural integrity of 9213 South Baltimore," said Roberts.

A city official tells CBS 2 there are not enough city inspectors to keep tabs on all the questionable buildings and keep up with inspections.

We reached out to the Building Department spokesperson about the 9227 South Baltimore building, who told us it had been inspected every year for the past five years. She says the owner had been cited with numerous violations in the past, but failed to address them.

Attempts to work with the owner were unsuccessful, warranting this inspection. But again, city attorneys say it's an inspection that only took place because of the building next door.