Part of building collapses onto street in Shamokin
Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo Pieces of wood, sheet metal and brick lay on High and Market streets after a portion of the roof at 23 S. Market St., at right, collapsed Saturday morning.
Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo A Shamokin street worker and a fire police member set up a barricade on High Street after a portion of the roof at 23 S. Market St., in background, collapsed Saturday morning.
BY LARRY DEKLINSKI
SHAMOKIN - A portion of a vacant commercial building collapsed onto a busy city street late Saturday morning.
The collapse occurred around 11:30 a.m. when sheet metal, wood and bricks from 23 S. Market St. fell near the structure on Market Street (Route 125) and West High Street. A utility line and live power line also fell onto Market Street when pieces of the structure fell. No injuries were reported.
Marlin Roth, who was inside Wayne's World a few buildings away from the collapse, said he heard a loud boom and went outside to investigate.
After viewing the debris on the street, Roth ran a block to the Friendship Fire Company to alert firefighters.
"I tapped on the window (of the station), and a young man answered," Roth said. "He said they would get everything dispatched."
The two-story building, once home to a television repair shop, had been vacant for several years and in poor condition. Shamokin Code Enforcer Barry Stoud said the owner, Tom Gulba, of Shamokin, had been cited several times over the years for violating several city ordinances.
Stoud could not recall the exact dates of the citations, but said Gulba had been cited for "unsafe structure" and "sanitation" due to items blowing off the building. Stoud added that he and Shamokin Mayor George Rozinskie, who previously served as the city's safety director, were previously in contact with Gulba about tearing down or fixing the building.
"Over the years, we have been after him," Stoud said. "He was planning, when the weather broke, to tear down the roof. Now he said he is definitely going to start next week."
Gulba, who was at the scene, said he had planned to tear down the building to at least the first floor, but wasn't able to do so because of financial constraints. Gulba said he already tore down a brick two-story rear portion of the building and a third floor several years ago. Gulba said last year the power meter had been tagged and electricity prevented from entering the building.
"I didn't think it was safe myself," Gulba remarked. "I only have so much money to work with."
Mark Kline, owner of the neighboring building at 19 S. Market St., said no damage resulted to his property. Kline said he worked with Gulba for the past 15 years and understood the financial hardships that are involved in tearing down a building. Kline estimated it would cost $2,.000 to $3,000 just to haul the building materials away.
"Hopefully, if he can't find the money, the city will help him tear it down," said Kline. "I hope for the best for him."
The northbound lane of Market Street was closed for six hours as fire officials waited for PPL to arrive on scene and disconnect the power. Barricades and caution tape surrounded the building until the area was cleared.
Responding to the collapse were Shamokin police officers, firefighters from Shamokin Independence Fire Company, Shamokin fire chiefs and fire police.
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