Montclair Business Left In Shambles When Floor Collapses After Storm

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A building’s floor collapsed in Montclair during this week’s stormy weather, leaving a local business in shambles, authorities said.

According to the Montclair Fire Department, the collapse took place at a one-story commercial building at 16 Lackawanna Plaza.

On Wednesday, the building – which houses an auto body shop – could be seen bearing a placard declaring it as an “unsafe structure” on its front window. “No individual is to occupy this building until the structure is rendered safe and secure,” it reads.

An incident report from the Montclair Fire Department gives more details about the collapse and the response from public safety officials:

“Truck 1 received a report of a collapse in the sidewalk outside of 16 Lackawanna Plaza. Upon arrival, [the crew] found a floor collapse in the one-story commercial building … Truck 1 secured the area around the building and notified PSE&G gas and electric, the Montclair building department, water department and the road department. Montclair police [at the scene] closed off traffic to all of Lackawanna Plaza. Gas and electric were secured to the building. All adjacent buildings were inspected for related structural damage from 4 Lackawanna Plaza to 18 Lackawanna Plaza. No other damage was observed in adjacent buildings.”

The incident report continues:

“Truck 1 observed major structural damage to the floor of #16 in the showroom area. A complete collapse of the concrete flooring caused damage to all of the store’s inventory. The exterior walls appeared to be stable and [showed] no signs of cracking or movement. The Montclair township engineer was enroute to assess the buildings condition. Truck 1 was unable to enter the building by any other means to inspect the rest of the building for damage.”

No additional information was immediately available.

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