#sNOVAlanche causes building collapses

Two building collapses in our area are attributed to the #sNOVAlanche blizzard. 

A passerby noticed a building that had collapsed in south Stafford at 12:14 a.m. Sunday.

There were no injuries in the collapse that was caused by the weight of snow on the building, a series of shops.

Here’s more in a press release:

On Sunday, January 24th, 2016 at 0014 hours, units from Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department responded to 20 Plantation Dr for a reported building collapse. The caller was a passerby who noted the businesses appeared unoccupied.

Engine 12 from the Berea Station was the first arriving unit with a 4 minute response time. Engine 12 reported a strip shopping center with collapse of the front facade of multiple businesses. Fire and Rescue personnel began assessing the structure for hazards and conducted a search to ensure the businesses were unoccupied.

Electricity, gas and water were secured to affect area. The collapse was a direct result of accumulated snow.

There are no firefighter or civilian injuries on scene.

Fire crews near Manassas were called to the partial collapse of an apartment building.

On Sunday, January 24th at approximately 12:30 a.m., fire and rescue units were dispatched to a building collapse at 10900 block of Coverstone Drive in Manassas.

Upon arrival, fire and rescue crews observed two apartments, one with partial collapse and the other building showing signs of a potential collapse. Initial reports indicated residents were trapped due the location of the collapse, a center portion of the building which leads to an exit.

Fire and rescue crews immediately began evacuating the residents from two complexes housing 12 units each.

No injuries to residents; one minor injury of a firefighter that sustained a facial cut.

Arrangements are currently being made to shelter approximately 67 people displaced by the building collapse.

The cause of the collapse appears to be the recent snowfall of approximately 28” inches of snowfall during the last 36 hours. Building officials are on the scene to make the actual determination.