No injuries were reported when a two-story building collapsed during a late night fire in New Orleans May 20.
Callers to 911 reported a building on fire at Dorgenois and Allen Streets in the 7th Ward at 11:10 p.m. and crews found a working fire in a two-story, mixed-use commercial structure. The building has a grocery story on the first floor while apartments on the second floor were being renovated.
A second alarm was called within minutes as firefighters began attacking the fire and protecting adjacent structures while evacuating any residents.
Shortly after the third alarm was called at 11:49, the roof of the building collapsed causing much of the building to crumble.
Additional crews were called for relief when a fourth alarm was ordered at 12:24 a.m.
A total of 68 fire personnel responded with 21 units.
Despite the heat from the intense blaze, firefighters limited the fire’s damage to two nearby properties to just radiant heat exposure on the exterior walls.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
