MIAMI – City of Miami Fire-Rescue officials responded to a strip mall early Friday morning due to a partial roof collapse.
Lt. Pete Sanchez, who is also a spokesman for the department, said rain was possibly to blame for the partial roof collapse on the northeast corner of 4731 W. Flagler St.
Crews responded to the scene just before 3:45 a.m.
Police initially went to the strip mall after the burglary alarm went off, but then discovered that part of the roof had collapsed inside the Coin Laundry.
Officers then put up police tape, restricting access to the area.
“When police arrived, they saw plaster on the ground and they contacted the Fire Department to respond,” Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said.
Crews quickly went inside to make sure no one was hurt. Fortunately, it was very early in the morning and no one was inside.
City of Miami building inspectors deemed the building unsafe, so business owners like Daniel Zeledon, of the Don Maguey Mexican restaurant, don’t know when they’ll be able to open their doors again.
“We’re not getting that income, we have to go into our savings … people have to go look for a job,” he said.
Fire Rescue officials say all the strip mall businesses will remain closed until the owner of the building has a structural engineer come check it out and deem it safe.
A structural engineer will also have to check that the building has the proper drainage.