Crime & Safety

Police, Fire Respond To Roof Collapse On Social Street

Vacant building to be demolished tomorrow, area of street near #788 closed all night.

 

The area of 781 Social Street is closed to traffic following a roof collapse at the vacant Two Stores In One Building.

There are no injuries, but police have blocked off the area of the street near the building, and pedestrians are being directed away from the side of the street near the building.

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Kevin Donnell, who lives across the street, said the collapse happened after a heavy rain and lightning at about 5 p.m. "It was pouring like a son of a gun," he said. Donnell said he called police to report the incident, and police and fire crews were there by about 5:30 p.m. to block off the street and check the building.

"I saw the lightning hit the building," Donnell said, though the structure, the former home of Al's Lamp Shop and Candles and Gifts, was not on fire. He said the hit knocked some pieces of concrete from the top of the split roof.

Find out what's happening in Woonsocketwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Deputy Fire Chief Paul Shatraw said the building will likely have to be demolished. Electricity to the building is cut and police will keep the road closed all night until a demolition crew can take down the building safely in the morning.

Shatraw said the building's roof collapsed in on itself. He said the cause hasn't been determined, though he noted witnesses had mentioned heavy rain and lightning before the collapse.


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