City: House Where Three Died In Fire Should Have Been Vacant

The house in which three people died in a fire on Christmas Eve was supposed to be vacant, City of Columbus officials said on Tuesday.

Investigators said that Jerrica Francisco, 22, Dayshawn Francisco, 4, and Demetrius Chappell, 33, were found dead at the home, located at 90 Wisconsin Ave.

Columbus issued its first citation on the house more than two years ago, 10TV’s Glenn McEntyre reported.

That first citation for the house was a building order and said that the dwelling was not fit to inhabit because there was no hot water or cooking appliances, fuel or power connection to provide permanent means of cooking operation.

Thirty days later, the city issued an emergency order that said electrical and plumbing work had been done without permits, McEntyre reported.

Both orders stated that the owner must vacate the tenants and submit plans and obtain permits to make the repairs. An inspection was required before anyone was allowed to inhabit the home.

Columbus city officials said that the order was never complied with and the vacate order still stands.

Property owner Sam Vazirani said that he did not recall the city’s order and said that the home was safe for occupancy.

Chappell’s sister, Renata Miller, said that her brother knew the home where he lived with his girlfriend and her 4-year-old son was not ideal.  Chappell said that he relied on space heaters to stay warm in the house.

“They had one on each side of them, because they stayed in one room because the house was so cold,” Miller said. They had a curtain from between the kitchen and the front room because there was air coming through the back door.”

Fire investigators said that they were still working to determine the cause of the fire, and the coroner has yet to determine the cause of death.

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