Hundreds Of El Paso Buildings Face Fire Inspection

May 3, 2012

About 600 downtown El Paso buildings will be inspected after fire destroyed a structure where a gunfighter once practiced law.

Fire Chief Otto Drozd says the safety review will begin next week.

Drozd on Tuesday updated the City Council and requested that fire codes be updated. City staffers will review proposed changes including rules on vacant buildings.

Nobody was hurt in the April 19 blaze that destroyed what was known as the John Wesley Hardin Building. Authorities are trying to determine what sparked the fire in the 130-year-old structure, which was about 40 percent occupied.

The fire in the ex-bank building has prompted officials to consider what buildings are vacant or being used for storage and might not be up to code.

The inspections start Monday.

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