A building that partially collapsed Thursday morning will be demolished Monday, officials say.
Two walls of a century-old building at 78 Main St. in downtown Penetanguishene collapsed at about 3 a.m. Sept. 7.
One person in a second-floor apartment was shaken out of his bed by the collapse, and fell to the ground below. He did not suffer serious injuries.
"I didn't hear the collapse but I was panicked. I grabbed my dog and some pills and that was it," Alex Cameron said Thursday.
While 14 residents have suddenly found themselves homeless, and several businesses have been closed during the investigation, officials say it’s a “miracle” nobody was seriously injured or killed.
“While this incident is impactful to tenants and our community, we’re extremely thankful that there were no serious injuries,” said Mayor Doug Rawson in a statement issued Friday night.
“I’m amazed, but not surprised, by the generosity of our town as we rally around the individuals and businesses impacted by this incident. Our town staff have our full confidence and support, and we thank all our area partners for stepping up and helping Penetanguishene.”
Rawson said the town is taking “extensive actions” in response to the building collapse in the town’s historic downtown core.
Road closures and detours have been put in place, and safety measures including fencing, police and security checks, will be ongoing throughout the weekend.
“Our number one priority is the safety of our residents and community, and we continue to respond and address this situation with extreme caution and due diligence,” said Jeff Lees, CAO of the Town of Penetanguishene.
“It is extremely important for the safety of everyone, that residents stay clear of the site until work is complete,” said Lees.
“We understand that this is our downtown core, and the incident has captured the attention of many, but we ask for your cooperation so clean up can be completed as safely, quickly and effective as possible.”
According to the statement, demolition will begin in the morning of Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
“Due to safety precautions and other complexities, the timeline for the demolition will be determined as work is being completed,” noted the statement.
Safety “continues to be our priority and road closures will remain in place until at least early next week,” says the statement.
Structural engineers continue to inspect other nearby buildings to evaluate and determine if any work may be required in the wake of the collapse.
More than a dozen people have been displaced as a result of this incident. The County of Simcoe, Red Cross, Empower Simcoe and the Salvation Army, among other partners, have stepped in to help.
Temporary accommodations for those initially displaced have been secured.
Food, clothes and other temporary supplies are being provided and wellness checks are ongoing to ensure the needs of the individuals displaced are met, notes the statement from the town.
“While we believe that in some cases, risk is minimal, with safety as the number one priority, the town may require that additional buildings temporarily remain unoccupied until further safety checks can be made and more is known about the cause of this collapse,” says the statement.
“Given the age of the building, demolition will follow all regulatory protocols related to the removal of possible environmentally sensitive substances. The Ministry of Labour, and other partners, is supporting the town through this process. This is another reason why the town is asking residents to stay clear of the area,” says the statement.
More information about the timeline and next steps will be shared next week, officials say.
