New Plaques Mark Unsafe Structures for Firefighters
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The Rochester Fire Department started a new process Wednesday that will help keep firefighters safe.
City crews began installing bright red placards on the front of vacant and unsafe structures that represent the highest risk to first responders.
Rochester Fire Chief Sam Mitrano says many of the buildings have missing or damaged structural supports, holes in the floors, or bad stairways.
Mitrano says he does not want to risk the lives of his firefighters because of unsafe, vacant buildings.
The city has approximately 2,500 vacant buildings, about a third of them are considered to be high hazard.