According to the latest report from Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, the city has seen a 58 percent drop in fire calls. Earley attributed the decline to a citywide effort to demolish abandoned houses. NBC 25 says Earley also highlights a door-to-door fire education campaign and 911 call-screening techniques that allow fire departments to make better use of equipment and personnel in helping to lessen the calls.

Of the opposite view however, is the Flint Firefighters Union President who says he is unsure with how much the demolitions have impacted the number of fires his firefighters have responded to. A local legislator also argues that an abandoned house is 10 times more likely to catch fire.

More that 1,500 residential properties are expected to be demolished in Genesee County.

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