“As search and rescue goes in, they encounter locked doors and false walls,” Chief Fire Inspector James Foley said. “It just puts people in the building at risk as well as the firefighters who have to respond.”

On May 29, four people were injured in a two-alarm fire at 25 N. Florida Ave., which is owned by Lucio and Alicia Guzman, according to property records. Instead of one family, 11 people were living in three rooms in the single-family home, officials found. Next door — which suffered some exterior damage from the blaze — four rooms housed 12 people, according to the code-enforcement file. The home is owned by Francis and Andrea Price, records show.

Across the street, officials found 20 N. Florida Ave. had eight rooms in the large three-story home with 18 people living there.

But a man who answered the door at the home's second floor Tuesday said he didn't know anything about the violations. His father, Mario Castro, is listed as the owner, but he was not available for comment.

“We have 10 people living here, but we have 10 rooms,” the man said as he held a small child, while two others stood nearby.

No one answered the door on the first floor, the only other occupied floor, according to Castro's son. Three people live there, he said. A construction notice in the window is dated Oct. 4, 2006.

Conway, the only owner who could be reached Tuesday, said he was working on getting his property up to code and moving the students back in.

“They're staying in motels around the city, paying more than they can really afford,” he said. “The casinos bring them over promising jobs, but don't tell them how expensive it is to live here.”

Conway said he tried to help them get into cheaper motels, but — without their own vehicles — transportation is also an issue. The building at 2922 Atlantic Ave. is a good spot for them, he pointed out.

He insisted the rooms he had them in were nice, with two almost-new king-sized Serta Posturepedic beds in each room, Internet access and televisions. A couple of larger rooms had three beds.

Conway would not say how many beds were in the building total, but city officials said the students were sleeping in shifts. Another problem was community bathrooms, with only five sinks and six showers added to the original building, according to code enforcement.

“They're students, so they're used to dormitory living,” Conway said.

The building owner said he was working with the city Tuesday, and his architect would be submitting a plan. In the meantime, he's hoping to get a temporary certificate of occupancy to allow the students — who were forced to move out by June 19 — back in.

“They're good kids,” Conway said.

Mooney didn't seem to think the temporary occupancy would be approved, but said the city would look at Conway's ideas.

“We'll take any property owner's plans into consideration, but the rooming houses illegally renting rooms and the overcrowding situation will be strictly enforced and prosecuted to the fullest,” he said.

In addition to the Atlantic Avenue office building and the three North Florida Avenue homes, three others were also cited:

A duplex at 22 N. Chelsea Ave. owned by John Foglia, which housed 12 people. There was an apartment over the garage and one under the stairs, which were being rented to exchange students, according to officials.

At 21 S. Spray Ave., owned by Hussian Ashfaq, 12 people were living on the first floor, a code enforcement officer found.

There were eight people living at 136 S. Bellevue Ave., owned by Jong Shin. The rooming house had no electricity due to nonpayment when officials first came June. 20. The bill was paid June 25, files show.

To e-mail Lynda Cohen at The Press:

[email protected]