Another fire broke out at an abandoned mall in Utica on Sunday.
Fire officials said crews were called to the old Charlestown Mall just before 7 p.m. Sunday. They arrived to find heavy black smoke on the north side of the building. When they got inside, they found five different fires throughout the building.
Firefighters were able to get everything under control after a while. But during their inspection, they noticed multiple holes in the floor on all four levels, along with collapsed roof areas.
This fire comes just over a month after another fire at the mall. The last one also started in multiple places before spreading quickly.
No injuries were reported in either fire. The causes of both fires are still under investigation.
The Utica Police Department is conducting an arson investigation into the fires started on July 21. When fires are reported, crews have to search the area for anyone inside.
"One of the issues that our firefighters face is the amount of collapse and the condition of the structure. The structure is very dangerous to the public to be doing any sort of urban exploring or anything like that. There's a lot of collapse. The ceiling comes down, I mean obviously you can see through the roof," said Utica Fire Chief Scott Ingersoll.
The Utica Fire Chief's message to the public at this point is to stay out of the building and off the property.
"There are a lot of issues they can become involved in," he said. "The least of which is an injury if you fall through a floor."
Utica Common Councilwoman Samantha Colosimo-Testa has joined the conversation. She wrote a letter to Utica and Frankfort mayors, asking for a resolution to remediate or demolish the building.
Colosimo-Testa also wants to put the property's owner on notice, because she said it is their responsibility to secure the property and anyone who enters the building.