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VERIFY: Is the city of Milledgeville responsible for inspecting Greek homes?

"These houses are so old."

MACON, Ga. — Milledgeville fire officials are still investigating what caused the house fire that burned down the home of 10 college students who were fraternity members. With only a few Greek homes in the city, who makes sure each house is in good shape for the students?

RELATED: UPDATE | No injuries reported in Milledgeville frat house fire

Sabrina Burse set out to verify: Does the city inspect fraternity and sorority houses? Her source is Mervin Graham with the city of Milledgeville's planning and zoning.

Some Georgia College students live in the Phi Mu sorority house. Jessica Praigg says she's called it home for about year and can't fathom what it's like to lose her home, but after a blaze took over Sunday evening, 10 Theta Chi fraternity members do.

"I've never seen something like that before in person, and I just can't imagine being one of those boys that lives in those houses," said Praigg. 

Praigg says she's worried because fire officials don't know what sparked the flames. 

"I get really paranoid really quickly, so feeling comfortable and safe is like a huge aspect of like where I choose to live," said Praigg. 

Phi Mu is one of several registered sorority homes in Milledgeville. It poses the question -- is the city responsible for inspecting fraternity and sorority houses to make sure they're safe?

Mervin Graham with the city of Milledgeville's planning and zoning said even though 10 college students in the same fraternity lived together at 230 N Columbia Street, the building wasn't officially registered as a Greek home. She says the  city is not responsible for its inspections. Instead, that falls on the property owner.

So it's verified -- the city does conduct fire inspections annually for registered Greek homes. The owners have to apply for a special use permit called a group residence. What we don't know is whether the property owner of the burned home had it inspected.

"There's so many codes and just little things that you never think about that would happen, and it just goes back to, like, these houses are so old," said Praigg. 

Praigg says safety always comes first for her

"We are not immune to everything going on around us," said Praigg. 

Graham with the city's planning and zoning told us as far as the city is concerned, the house that burned down was an apartment building with six different units inside. 

13WMAZ called the home owner listed in the county tax records and it is listed as a company in Augusta. They've not returned our calls.

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