Bats in burned house worry neighbors

FORT MILL, S.C. — Beverly Boss stands outside a vacant home two doors down from hers and hears chirping sounds, but it's not birds she's hearing.

"We've sat out here at dusk and seen 10 bats at once fly out, and there's more than that," she said.

The house is in the Dominion Bridge neighborhood off Dobys Bridge Road.

It caught fire in May 2015, and it's been left alone ever since.

"I'm worried about my child getting bit by a bat. Rabies, diseases and things like that," Boss said.  

An exterminator showed up late Wednesday said there are probably hundreds of bats in the exposed attic of the home.

Scott Gibson said it was his daughter and son-in-law who lived there, along with his 8-year-old grandson.

A legal battle involving the insurance company has left the house in that state.

York County fire investigator Charles Williamson told Channel 9 the fire was ruled arson. There have been no arrests yet, and he would not give further details on how it was started.

Gibson is concerned about complaints from neighbors but said his hands are tied.

"We were told that the house is condemned. We cannot go on top to re-tarp it. We can't go inside to do anything to help fix it," he said. "All we can do is trim the hedges and cut the grass."

Neighbors told Channel 9 the homeowners association said it can't step in and enforce its rules for the same reason.

"Until the legal matter is settled, we can't enter the property or help remedy complaints in the neighborhood," town of Fort Mill spokeswoman Caroline Hasty said.

Neighbor Ken Mace said something needs to be done to protect neighbors and children living nearby.

"Somewhere, it's got to stop," Mace said. "Somewhere, there's got to be some movement on this."

"Is it going to take somebody getting hurt? Someone wandering into the house?" Boss said.

Neighbors said because it's a health hazard, that should be enough for the city to step in and take action, like they would for any other nuisance property.

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