Heavy Rain Blamed For Awning Collapse At Santa Rosa Kmart
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) – No one was injured when a 12-by-30-foot awning collapsed Thursday morning at a Santa Rosa Kmart, a fire official said.
The collapse occurred at 7:30 a.m. at the Kmart at 3771 Cleveland Ave.
Kmart assistant manager Mike Shaffer blamed the collapse on heavy rain, but Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshal Paul Rosenthal attributed the collapse also to dry rot in the awning.
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Rosenthal said Kmart officials had supports in place to keep the wood, tar and gravel awning from falling because of the dry rot.
Shaffer could not say whether a contractor had been hired to repair the awning before today's incident.
A Santa Rosa building inspector was not immediately available for comment.
The store was closed when the awning collapsed onto the sidewalk and driveway on a front corner of the store by the garden center. A company has been hired to come out Thursday to clean up the debris.
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The store is open but the electronics department and part of the garden center have been closed until store officials determine it's safe for customers to be in those departments.
Shaffer said he did not expect business to be affected by the incident.
National Weather Service officials said 1.58 inches of rain has fallen in Santa Rosa Thursday as of about 11 a.m.
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