No one injured, but three briefly trapped by factory roof collapse

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:47 p.m.

ANDERSONVILLE—No one was injured, but three workers were briefly trapped when a roof collapsed at a factory in Andersonville on Saturday, possibly because of ice and snow buildup, authorities said.

The roof collapse was reported at about 7:40 p.m. Saturday. Seven people were inside the Carton Service/Pharma Packaging building on First Quality Drive at the time, said Del Kennedy, chief of the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department.

Four workers were able to make it out, and firefighters had to help the other three escape from a break room, near the front of the building, at the edge of the factory space behind it. All the workers were in or near the break room at the time of the collapse, Kennedy said.

He estimated that 50 percent of the roof, which was about 40 feet above the factory floor, had collapsed over that portion of the building. There was only a small crew working at the time, Kennedy said.

“We are very fortunate that there were no injuries,” he said.

Kennedy said a building inspector said snow and ice buildup had apparently clogged drains, meaning the wintry precipitation on the roof wasn’t draining.

He advised anyone else who has a flat roof to check their drains.

“This could happen to anyone, to any building,” Kennedy said.

Firefighters said the collapse busted a three-inch main gas line, and it was “wide open.” They initially shut off the gas, and then the Powell-Clinch Utility District responded. Norris Freeway near the factory was temporarily closed because of the gas leak.

Besides volunteer firefighters from Andersonville, the Anderson County Rescue Squad, Norris Fire Department, and Anderson County EMS also responded. The Norris Police Department helped with traffic control on U.S. 441, also known as Norris Freeway.

Kennedy said Pharma Packaging makes medical supplies and packaging. The factory is off Mountain Road and Norris Freeway, just south of Highway 61 and the city of Norris.

More information will be added as it becomes available.