By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUNFRANKLIN — Reports that two people might be inside a burning city-owned building brought firefighters from 10 other area departments to Franklin on Thursday evening. The building at 31 Church St., one of several the city has acquired by tax deed, has a history of use by squatters, according to local officials. Once they confirmed there was no one else in the building, firefighters focused on extinguishing the fire on the third floor and attic to prevent its spread to the rest of the building. “Our homeless population is taking up residence in many of our vacant buildings throughout the city, and this poses great risk and danger to our firefighters,” LaChapelle said. The city owns several properties taken for back taxes, and there are several other vacant structures in Franklin that have proven attractive to vandals and squatters, officials say.

Source: Daily Sun October 28, 2017 04:30 UTC