Vacant W-B building burns

WILKES-BARRE – Firefighters struggled to extinguish a smoky blaze at a vacant building that neighbors call a “troubled property” Tuesday night.

Crews responded to the Murray building at Courtright Avenue and Darling Street around 8:45. Upon arrival, firefighters were unable to enter the building due to its condition.

“Everyone is always complaining about this building,” Charlene Moss, of Courtright Street, said. “There are always vagrants and kids hanging out there. The place is filled with garbage … a perfect fire hazard.”

Moss, who lives a parking lot away from the Murray building, said she smelled smoke and when she looked out her window she noticed flames shooting through the second floor windows.

“It took firefighters some time to cut the doors open,” she said, referring to the doors on Darling Street. “It looked like they were having a tough time putting the fire out.”

Amy Gilvary of Hollenback Street said the inside of the building, some of it partially collapsed, is filled with tons of mattresses, tires, beer cans and many other debris.

“It’s a fire waiting to happen,” she said. “There’s lots of kindling in there, and nothing is being done about it.”

The red-brick building is owned by local real estate man Thomas J. Murray, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday night. The building has been vacant for many years now.

Funnovations Inc. assembled gas-powered scooters there as recently as 2001, and another business there involved mattresses, explaining why so many are found there.