WSAZ Investigates | Previous inspection reports show similar issues a decade prior at Marshall fraternities

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Last Tuesday, dozens of Marshall students were evicted from their off-campus housing, when six properties - including three fraternities - failed safety inspections from the Huntington Fire Marshal.

Some of those life-safety issues included non-working fire alarms; missing carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers; structural issues; and a gas line not installed correctly.

As students packed up their belongings last Wednesday, they told WSAZ that they had been telling property owner Dennis Johnson about the problems for years.

The properties’ previous inspection reports, newly obtained by WSAZ, show that Johnson was warned about the same issues by the Huntington Fire Marshal in 2017, nearly a decade ago.

Those reports show issues with the fire alarms in every property, as well as missing or improperly installed fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors and structure issues like the same rotting front porch.

Each of the inspections from 2017 and 2018 ask for a plan of correction within 10 days. WSAZ had asked for all documents relating to these inspections, and did not receive any of those plans.

Johnson owned five of the six properties in 2017. WSAZ tried to speak with him about these reports and their similarities. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

WSAZ also reached out to current fire marshal Alan Roby, who said he was not available; as well as previous fire marshal Mat Winters, who has not yet responded.