Fall River residents react to demolition of historic Brightman Street building

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Onlookers lined Brightman Street Thursday as crews ripped down one of the city’s more historic buildings.

City Building Commissioner Glen Hathaway said the former theater and casket company was vacant for 20 years.

Hathaway regularly responded to the building over the years due to trespassers finding shelter inside.

“Unfortunately they got in and started a fire, we assume,” he said “A fire was started because there were no utilities whatsoever to the building.”

The fire that engulfed the building Tuesday morning is currently being investigated by officials as “suspicious.”

A sign outside the demo zone offered $5,000 to anyone who had information about alleged arson.

Some on the street felt sadness as they were now missing a long standing staple of the area.

Victoria and Levi saw Tuesday’s flames and billowing smoke from their home.

“It’s going to be strange but it’s one less thing we have to worry about,” she said.

No injuries were reported during the fire.