This afternoon, Station 52 was dispatched for an automatic fire alarm at Schramm, Inc on East Virginia Ave in West Goshen Township. While enroute, Engine 52-2 was advised that police are reporting a partial roof collapse. Engine 52-2 requested the assignment be upgraded to a building fire response bringing Stations 51, 53, Tower 54 and Good Fellowship EMS. Ladder 53, Rescue 53, Utility and Collapse 53 made the response. WCFD units arrived to find a large one-story industrial building that had been evacuated. Assistant 53 (Corcoran) arrived and established Command. Initial size up revealed a large area of compromised roof and damage to interior supporting elements of the structure. Crews also encountered an active gas leak and damaged sprinkler system that was flowing water into the building. The utilities were secured and a collapse exclusion zone was established. Large amount of snow on the roof and coming off of an adjacent roof may have contributed to the incident. Once it was determined that there was no life-safety issue and with the building secured, Command turned the building back over to the company's engineers. All fire units cleared the scene.
All photos courtesy of NozzleNut Photography