While the buildings may look condemned, the "X" marks on a dozen structures in Wareham actually serve as a warning sign for firefighters. Building Inspector Myles Burke calls the structures the “dirty dozen,” and said they are an eyesore to the community. Burke said action is being taken to clean up the homes.

The large red “X” is typically painted on the front or roof of a building and serves as a clear indication to firefighters that a building does not need to be entered in the event of a fire.

“It’s a life-safety tool,” Wareham Fire Department Captain Mike Dykas said. “It’s our life safety.”

A regulation requiring the markings was passed by the state Board of Fire Prevention Regulations in December 2001 after an abandoned warehouse caught fire and claimed the lives of six Worcester firefighters who went inside the building in an attempt to rescue some homeless men who were said to be trapped inside.

If a building is marked, the priority for fire crews then becomes extinguishing the blaze from the outside and preventing it from spreading to neighboring buildings.

While the "X" indicates the buildings marked are vacant, Dykas said that the incident commander at the scene makes the final judgement call on whether firefighters will enter. If firefighters believe someone is inside, they may re-evaluate, he said.

In Wareham, the Assistant Fire Chief examines structures monthly with the Building Inspector and Health Agent in order to identify any vacant or dangerous buildings.

In the Onset Fire District, Fire Chief Howard Andersen said his department has only used the "X" regulation once in the past ten years. The lone marked building was on Onset Avenue and has since been renovated.

Andersen said the department maintains an up-to-date list of potentially dangerous properties with addresses and current conditions, through a process called "pre-fire planning."

"Pre-fire planning is assessing the building to know its conditions before a fire," Andersen explained. "We have been going out and doing pre-fire planning and making a list of questionable structures. We will go back again to see if [a property] needs to be marked."

While the “X” simply means a building has no occupancy permit, Burke says in most cases the buildings are structurally unsafe and in all cases are an eyesore.

Burke said once the buildings are labeled unoccupied or unsafe, the town monitors the structures and tries to work with the owner to remedy the situation.

In cases where the owners are not compliant, the Board of Health will issue letters to the homeowners informing them to "make the structure safe," according to Health Agent Bob Ethier.

Burke said a structure can be made safe through one of two ways. Either by bringing the building up to code, a process that is often long and costly, or tearing it down.

If the marked buildings are not addressed by the property owner after several months, the town considers issuing an emergency order to make the structure safe, Burke said.

If unsuccessful, the town will likely declare the property an “unsafe situation,” Burke explained. The town would then absorb the cost of the clean-up. Burke said the Department of Inspectional Services is applying for grants to offset the costs if an unsafe situation must be declared.

Burke said he is working with Town Administrator Mark Andrews to budget $25,000 to tear down the structures. He said the grant money the town will receives from the government is based proportionately on the funds budgeted by the town for clean-up of properties.

Although he will not know until later in the year if the town’s budget can accommodate the $25,000 the department is requesting, Burke said he will be applying for state and federal grants in upcoming weeks.

In the event the town needs to remove the structures, Burke said having the funds available is crucial.

Burke said most owners are taking responsibility for their properties. That was the case with Aaron Gomes’ building on Cranberry Highway, which was marked with an “X." Gomes is the owner of Gomes Enterprise Construction.

“People seem to get the wrong impression when the building is marked,” Gomes said. “[The building] has an 'X' because it was not occupied. We used it for storage.”

Gomes is now in the process rehabbing his marked property. “We are going to get it back to brand new,” he said.

Once completed, Gomes said he plans to use the building as office space.