All articles tagged with #structural collapse
The Austin Fire Department is currently battling a three-alarm fire in a fully involved three-story building in south Austin, with a structural collapse on the second floor and multiple exposures. Crews are searching for other possible fires due to windy conditions, and drivers are advised to avoid the area as one northbound lane of the I-35 frontage road is closed.
The Bronx building that partially collapsed had previously been issued a summons for a sidewalk shed violation related to its structural integrity. Inspectors had raised concerns about deteriorated and broken mudsills, which could compromise the building's stability and potentially lead to a collapse. The building also had active citations for facade safety, including cracked bricks. However, the Department of Buildings clarified that unsafe facade conditions are not the same as an unsafe building. It is unclear if the collapse was caused by the weight of the facade rubble or if the scaffolding became unstable first. Investigations will be conducted once the site is cleared for safety.
Firefighters rescued four people and a dog from a three-alarm apartment fire in downtown Portland before being ordered to fall back due to the fire's growth. The cause of the blaze is unknown, and it is unclear if there were any casualties. The fire posed dangers for drivers, and transportation officials closed Interstate 405 and surface streets in the immediate area due to low visibility from heavy smoke. Authorities were concerned the building might collapse or the flames might spread to another structure just feet away.
A 4-alarm fire broke out at a Southwest Portland apartment building, with officials closing both directions of Interstate 405 near the scene due to the risk of the building collapsing. Firefighters helped evacuate people from inside the building, and Portland General Electric cut power to the area. The building lacked a sprinkler system and was not modernized with interior fire suppression. Officials are urging people to avoid the area, and investigators are working to determine what sparked the blaze.
At least six people were injured when a mechanical structure collapsed in the indoor pool area of the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado. The Aurora Fire Department received a call for a structural collapse at the hotel and transported two people with critical injuries to local area hospitals and another four with non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses reported that part of the HVAC system had fallen onto the pool deck, and a child was seen being treated after the collapse.
One person was killed in a house fire in Independence, Missouri, on Monday. Firefighters were forced to evacuate the home due to a structural collapse and were placed on a defensive strategy. The fire was eventually brought under control, but the victim was confirmed dead on the scene. The Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office is aiding in the investigation. No further details are available at this time.