Social media clout-chasing at the long vacant IBM complex in Somers, New York, has escalated from trespassing videos to a suspicious fire that pulled volunteer firefighters deep inside the building and ended with several people in handcuffs, officials say. Crews described hazardous conditions inside the sprawling site, with long stretches of hose and risky interior searches needed to chase down lingering hot spots. State police and local leaders say the race for viral clips is turning a decade-old empty corporate campus into a very current public safety headache.
Firefighters Describe Dangerous Conditions
Leaders with the Somers Volunteer Fire Department told CBS News that arriving crews tracked smoke deep inside the shuttered complex and had to hand stretch attack lines hundreds of feet to reach the fire. Many interior doors had been chained or blocked in an attempt to keep intruders out, a tactic that firefighters said actually raised the stakes once they had to get in and move around during searches and overhaul. Assistant Chief George Wahlers told the outlet, "This isn't a mistake. They're intentionally going in a vacant building, putting lives at risk."
How The Blaze Unfolded
Firefighters were called out Monday after reports of smoke, and once inside they found an active room-and-contents fire about 100 feet into the building, according to AOL. Because of the size of the campus and limited water supply, the department upgraded the incident to a working structure response and brought in tanker units for extra water. Officials said crews knocked down the blaze without any injuries to responders.
Police Point To Social Posts For Copycats
New York State Police Maj. Daniel Smith told CBS News that videos shared by "urbex" influencers appear to be fueling new waves of people sneaking into the property to film their own clips. State police say roughly a dozen people have already been arrested for trespassing at the site this year and are warning would-be explorers that they should expect to be charged if they are caught. The IBM campus, closed for more than ten years and posted with no-trespassing signs, still holds strong appeal for people hunting for viral content.
Legal Consequences For Trespassers
Under New York law, simple trespass is a non-criminal violation under Penal Law §140.05, while entering a fenced or otherwise restricted building can be charged as criminal trespass in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor under §140.10. Prosecutors can escalate charges depending on how a property is secured and how someone got inside, and they decide whether to pursue misdemeanor or violation counts after arrests. Property owners also have civil options.
Officials say filming illegal urbex adventures might look edgy online but creates very real dangers for explorers and first responders. After the fire, state police issued an advisory reminding the public not to break into vacant buildings and said enforcement around the Somers campus has been stepped up, AOL reported. For now, authorities say the smartest move is to stay out of the old IBM complex entirely and call local police if you see anything suspicious.
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