Nov 19, 2009 5:52 pm US/Eastern
Insects Partly To Blame For Floor Collapse
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Insects are partially to blame for a floor collapse in South Baltimore.
CBS
Eyewitness News was first on the scene Wednesday when a building collapsed in South Baltimore. As Mike Schuh reports, insects are partially to blame for the damage.
Two workmen were taking the roof off a tiny rowhome. The plan was to make it bigger with an addition; what happened made it flatter by subtraction.
Two floors collapsed into the basement. One of the workers escaped unharmed, but the other was trapped with a broken leg. Specially trained firefighters reinforced the debris and went in.
"Once we cleared the debris out, he was ecstatic and said, `Get me out of here,'" said firefighter Darryl Robinson.
The man was hauled out and taken to Shock Trauma.
The only thing left above ground Thursday was the porcelain attached to the plumbing.
Workers were removing the roof, but the housing department says they were storing what they removed on the first floor. The problem with this house is that the beams were riddled with termites.
"Well, it was like walking on a sponge," said Kenny Janiel.
Janiel worked in the house for the former owner.
"The only thing holding that together is carpet," he said.
Now Janiel is concerned the damage will affect the house he owns next door.
"There's an opening up here that's gotta be fixed," he said.
The building is condemned. No one on the street knows who owns the building. Current demolition and work permits on file with the city lead to what appears to be a fictitious address. They'd like the building shored up so the houses nearby don't tumble, too.
The city says it's up to the owner of the building to stabilize the remaining structure.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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