Three Oak Street rental houses the owner says date to the 1840s were left “totally beyond repair” in a March 7 fire and will be demolished.

S.J. “Skippy” Tuminello received approval from the Vicksburg Board of Architectural Review Tuesday to clear the sites.

“It’s quite sad to have to ask you to do this,” Tuminello said to the board. “Three of these buildings were the original Confederate barracks of the old Marine Hospital.”

Tuminello requested the board’s permission to demolish four homes at 2312, 2314, 2316 and 2318 Oak St., but members imposed a 150-day stay on the property at 2318 as required by the city’s historic preservation guidelines.

That home, which Tuminello said was built around 1910 and does not have as much historical significance as the other three, was not as severely damaged in the blaze.

The fire, which authorities said began at 2314 Oak in a dislodged electric heater, seriously injured a 57-year-old woman and her 8- and 4-year-old grandsons.

After five months, Tuminello can reapproach the board to seek permission again to demolish the roughly 800-square-foot home at 2318 Oak St.

“Maybe we can do something with it,” said Tuminello. “The only problem is it’s totally out of character with the rest of the block now.”

Also Tuesday, the board, represented by Dorwin Shields, Thurman Nelson, Betty Bullard, Tom Pharr and Sue Seratt:

• OK’d board meeting minutes from May 25.

• OK’d a request by David “Luke” MacFarlan to enclose an existing porch on his home at 1011 First East St. to match a “sister house” at 1013 First East St; and to repair siding, roof, fascia, soffit and remaining porch as necessary according to historic district guidelines.