Publication (142 pages).

that can be used to enforce a
clean up of property due to
neighbourhood aesthetic standards
if a neighbour is finding
the mess a visual problem.
But these laws also cover instances
when items in a yard
create a zone prone to insect
and vermin breeding, or when
the pile is so high it becomes
termed a dumping site. The
most recent concern in hoarding
situations is the safety of
emergency health personnel.
Paramedic and fire respondents
have raised concern
with regards to their responsibility
for saving members in a
hoarded house. This concern
comes from worries about
self-harm during a rescue;
some hoarded homes require
climbing over piles of goods
that may topple at any time,
and some suffer from severe
structural damage and could
collapse. Recent attention has
been turned to the increasing
incidents of fire in hoarded
homes and the increased safety
risk to first respondents as well
as residents. In this case some
form of regulation for safety
personnel may be required.
These types of coalitions are
becoming more popular as the
presence of hoarding increases,
highlighting the shifting
nature of the problem.
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