WARREN, Ohio - WARREN Fire crews in Warren responded to a fire inside a former Delphi Packard plant Saturday evening.

Warren Fire Department says a crew was dispatched to the area of Griswold St Northeast and Paige Avenue Northeast. The department told 21 News that fire was contained and had been suppressed by crews on the scene. 

Warren's fire chief Ken Nussle told 21 News crews on the scene that the building was vacant when the department responded.

The former plant also caught fire in the past couple of weeks due to homeless citizens occupying parts of the building, the chief added. 

“It’s a sad story because it's really just somebody trying to keep warm or eat something,” Chief Ken Nussle of the Warren City Fire Department said. 

Nussle said as the weather gets colder vacant building fires like this are more common.

"This building's no different than any other vacant building. Once a building is vacant it just becomes an invitation for homeless people to find a safe haven,” he said. 

Chief Nussle said the building is boarded up each time a fire occurs to prevent anyone from going back in, but the boards are removed and another fire soon follows. He added there is not much they can do to stop the break-ins and it’s up to the owner to board up after a fire.

The building is a part of the AUTOParkit company trying to make several structures in the area into one big campus. 

Owner Christopher Alan said they board up and replace windows after every fire but since this building doesn’t have power it doesn’t have security cameras. They’ve also asked police to patrol more in the area to catch those they suspect are breaking in.

“Basically we’re just looking for somebody to identify this person,” Nussle said. 

Alan told 21 News they were working to get power to the building and enhance security but now that Dana Street that runs through the campus has publicly reopened after a city council vote he’s unsure if their plans will continue.

Saturday night's fire was contained to the first floor of the structure. The exact cause was not immediately determined.