City of Bisbee and Property Owners Reach Settlement Over Valentine's Day Fire

The City of Bisbee has reached a significant settlement with the property owners of 30 Main St, the site of the devastating Valentine's Day fire. This resolution marks the culmination of negotiations and represents a crucial step forward for the city's recovery efforts.

Following the fire, which erupted on February 14th around 9:15pm, the City of Bisbee incurred approximately $400,000 in expenses related to ensuring the immediate safety of the area and facilitating the reopening of surrounding businesses on Main Street. The property owners found themselves unable to meet the financial obligations necessary to repay their portion of the city's expenses, and there was no financial way forward to rebuild at the location.

In a unanimous vote, the city council agreed to accept the title to the property, thus transferring ownership to the City of Bisbee. The property will be conveyed via a warranty deed, placing the city as the official owner of 30 Main St. This transfer will be free of any liens, except for the existing lien of roughly $163,000 that the city had already placed on the property.

The settlement allows the City of Bisbee to utilize grant money for additional hazardous condition cleanup and to proceed with plans to rebuild on the site. This approach aims to prevent the property from remaining an abandoned fire scene without any foreseeable construction to rebuild.

As part of the agreement, the property owners have committed to repaying the city $500 per month until the $163,000 lien is fully satisfied. Additionally, the settlement includes terms that permit the city to foreclose on the owners' other property if the repayment obligations are not met. This provides a measure for the city to ensure the debt is repaid. If the other property is ever sold, the money from the sale will go towards paying the remaining balance on the lien.

City Manager explained that this settlement with the owners enables Bisbee to move forward with necessary clean-up efforts and future development. The city first plans to address any remaining safety issues on the site before any considerations to rebuild.

A lien also remains on the second property that was heavily damaged by the fire. The city anticipates recovering those expenses through insurance reimbursement. No insurance information was available for the property at 30 Main St according to the fire investigation.

Key Findings of the Valentine's Day Fire Investigation:

• Structure History: Built in the early 1900s, the building housed a business on the ground floor and a residential area on the second floor, occupied by the owner and his wife.

• Fire Origin: The fire started on the bottom floor, within a five-foot area at the base of the wall on the right side interior.

• Discovery: The homeowner discovered the fire in the utility room near the sauna and unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher.

• Spread of Fire: The fire spread quickly due to open doors leading to the second floor via a stairwell. The occupants escaped through a window onto the roof of the adjacent building.

• Damage: The fire caused significant damage, resulting in the collapse of the roof and second story. A building to the east sustained severe damage, while another two-story building to the east was structurally damaged but did not catch fire.

• Building Use: The property served as both a primary residence and a business (Bisbee Oil and Vinegar). The second-floor residential area included a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedrooms, and other living spaces.

• Fire Origin Determination: The fire did not originate from the outside, as indicated by minimal damage on the left and rear sides and smoke patterns suggesting an internal origin. No electrical involvement was found in the fire's origin.

• Investigation Challenges: Multiple extension cords were found in the room, but their exact routing and impact were unclear due to collapse damage. During the stabilization process, the second floor's exterior walls collapsed, complicating the investigation.

• Insurance Information: Insurance details were unavailable at the time of the incident.

• Fire Report: The fire was reported to 911 by the homeowner's wife after his unsuccessful attempt to extinguish it.

The investigation concludes that the fire originated inside the building, spread due to open access points, and caused significant structural damage. While the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, electrical involvement is suspected. The extensive damage from the collapse hindered a definitive conclusion.