Rochester, N.Y. - The Rochester Fire Department is starting a new system to mark buildings in the city that could have safety hazards for first responders in an emergency.
Starting Wednesday, they will place signs up on certain vacant or dangerous buildings warning emergency workers about missing or damaged structural supports, holes in the floors and missing or damaged stairways.
The placards will be placed on the front of the building and to the side of each entrance.
Placards with an X across them will be used to indicate that only exterior firefighting efforts should be used and entry made only for known life hazards.
Properties slated for demolition regardless of the hazard level will be also identified at the highest hazard level.
There are about 2500 vacant buildings in the city of Rochester with approximately one-third of them meeting the high hazard criteria.
Each sign will have the date of the most recent inspection.
