SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- A three-alarm fire broke out Thursday at a vacant Springfield hospital just days after the owners missed a court-ordered deadline to secure the building.

Fire crews arrived at the old Vibra Hospital on State Street around noon Thursday to battle a fire on the fourth floor. Officials believe it was started by high schoolers who were reportedly seen running across the fifth floor. The fire was put out and the suspects have not been caught.

Springfield Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi has previously called the abandoned building a “firefighter killer.” The fire department has been called to the old Vibra Hospital 18 times in the last two years, including Thursday’s fire. Some of those calls required multiple units responding at once. Five calls were for smoke in the building, six calls were structure fires, nine calls were to assist other agencies, and seven calls were investigations.

A Springfield resident said the building poses a risk to the area. “It’s a huge security risk. The fact that they haven’t boarded it up like they’re supposed to,” the resident added. “I mean, there’s a lot of trees out here, there’s a residential area, there’s some other businesses, and, I mean, that’s a safety risk right there.”

The city tried to put a stop to it with a court order. That agreement, filed on May 6, gave the owners, Vibra Healthcare, until Sunday, May 10 to board up every window and door and always keep two mobile security guards on site. The deadline passed and Thursday, a three-alarm fire broke out on the fourth floor. Security vehicles were in the parking lot Thursday afternoon and some windows appeared to be boarded up, but many still had gaping holes, providing easy access.

Neighbors said they have not seen any of the promised cleanup or boarding work actually happen. “I mean, as far as I know, it looks the same as it did a year ago, but I could be mistaken and I don’t want to give a false report,” a Springfield resident noted.

One resident said they have seen security vehicles in the parking lot frequently, but they are unsure if they have seen anyone boarding anything up.

The question now is whether the owners will act before a judge forces them to. The next hearing is June 8. Western Mass News reached out to Vibra to ask why the May 10 deadlines were missed and is waiting to hear back from the city solicitor.

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