“I extinguished two fires final 12 months,” stated Benoit, who owns Treehouse Interiors on Windsor Street off of Spall Street.
Someday between Monday night time and Tuesday morning, a hearth broke out behind the furnishings retailer, the flames damaging a cardboard recycling dumpster subsequent to the constructing.
“It was filled with cardboard, which may trigger the flames to go increased and contact the roof line,” Benoit stated.
Subsequent door at Savoy Tools, the flames additionally raised critical considerations.
“As a result of we service garden and backyard tools, we have now gas on the premises,” stated David Turner, proprietor of Savoy Tools. “If hearth ever reached the incorrect place … then definitely it could possibly be, I don’t wish to use the phrase catastrophic, but it surely could possibly be vital.”
Two years in the past, an auto restore store in the identical space was destroyed after a hearth erupted exterior of it.
“We depend on the shop. One thing like that may catch on hearth, it should have a big impact,” Benoit stated.
Benoit stated he has to do each day checks of the property for any sort of vandalism together with common cleansing exterior.
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“We’ve got tons… like plenty of, typically a homeless camp within the again, individuals reducing the fence or beginning fires,” he stated.
Benoit stated he’s already spent hundreds of {dollars} on protecting measures and the prices are including up, amid an already robust financial local weather.
Whereas hiring a non-public safety firm has crossed his thoughts, he says, the precept of it doesn’t sit properly.
“As a result of ultimately, companies pay property tax and property taxes present these companies,” Benoit stated. “For me it’s like eradicating the accountability from town, and I’d quite my, you realize, my tax, property tax, to go barely increased and get higher companies than going privately.”
Whereas he stated town’s new grant program, which provides $3,000 to offset safety prices, is an efficient factor, it doesn’t all the time go far sufficient.
“When you will have 22,000 sq. ft, you want fairly a bigger quantity,” Benoit stated.
Whereas nobody from town was obtainable to reply to the considerations, in an e mail to World Information, a spokesperson said its neighborhood security division has already been working within the space .
Benoit acknowledged town is attempting to do what it may possibly in its restricted capability and stated it’s modifications to the judicial system which are wanted.
“We’re educating our youngsters motion have penalties, however you then see you see individuals on the market committing crimes on a regular basis and there’s no actual penalties,” Benoit stated. “I feel the primary downside right here is the justice system.”
Turner added that extra assist companies are additionally wanted to get a deal with on the social dysfunction affecting companies.
“I feel it begins with the psychological well being points and dependancy points and we have now nowhere to ship these individuals,” Turner stated.
© 2026 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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