Wilmington residents witnessed a scare in the city when a two-story building on the 200 block of South Van Buren Street partially collapsed. In a Facebook update, Wilmington Fire detailed the response to the early morning distress call at around 10:15 AM on Thursday, which brought about 20 fire and EMS personnel rushing to the scene, as the sidewall of a corner structure gave way during renovations.
The first on the scene was Battalion Chief Jeff Schaal who, after evaluating the site, concluded that the building was at further risk of collapse, though fortunately it was empty at the time and no injuries were reported. Firefighters worked swiftly to assess the building's stability and secure the perimeter, they determined it had been under renovation for some time, the situation was eventually handed off to the Department of Licenses and Inspections, their report confirming the absence of civilian or firefighter casualties, as reported by the Wilmington Fire.
Integral to the operation were several firefighting units, including Engine 1 and Squad 4; Ladder 2, Ladder 1, and Battalion Chiefs 1, 2, and 4 joined the efforts to ensure public safety and manage the situation. In total, firefighters, EMS teams, and battalion chiefs collaborated to secure the structure and utilities, mitigating immediate dangers posed by the unstable structure.
A follow-up release by the Wilmington Fire on Facebook indicated the comprehensive response plan put into action and the adept handling of the emergency by all units involved. Wilmington citizens can stay abreast of any updates regarding the collapse and potential impacts on the renovation process and structural integrity assessments forthcoming from city officials.
