A 10-story office building located at 7310 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, Maryland, was evacuated Thursday afternoon following concerns regarding its structural integrity.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department reported that the evacuation was prompted by a partial shift in a floor during the ongoing construction of an underground parking garage.
All occupants of the building were safely evacuated, and fire officials confirmed via social media that there was no collapse of the structure.
According to a fire captain on the scene, construction workers identified issues with rebar in the floor and promptly notified the fire department. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered structural problems in the construction area, leading to the decision to evacuate the entire building.
Residents and workers in the vicinity have been advised to steer clear of the area while a building inspector assesses the safety of the structure.
Steven Dannenmann, a certified public accountant who works in the building, mentioned that this was the first incident of its kind for the facility, noting that there had been ongoing construction activity for five weeks involving extensive jackhammering to address rebar and concrete issues.
In conjunction with the evacuation, Crain Highway, which runs behind the building, has been closed between 8th and Georgia avenues to facilitate the investigation. Fire officials have established an evacuation zone that extends two lengths of the building as a precautionary measure against potential collapses, and notices have been posted on nearby buildings to inform the public.
Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).
0 Comments
Log in to join the conversation.