Dozens May Be Trapped Inside Manhattan Building After Collapse

NY 1 News ^ | 3/27/03

[michigander]

Facade Collapse Reported In Northern Manhattan

POSTED: 12:03 p.m. EST March 27, 2003
UPDATED: 12:22 p.m. EST March 27, 2003

NEW YORK -- At least one person was injured after a building facade collapsed Thursday morning in northern Manhattan.

Firefighters say the injured person is at Harlem Hospital after the collapse on 177th Street in Washington Heights.

It is possible that other people may be trapped inside the building.

[Semper Paratus]

The Pro_Sadaam clymers are staging a 'die-in' on 5th Avenue causin Manhattan gridlock. Probably hindering rescue and ambulances uptown.

[Destro]

It is a ghetto - low income run down section of the city.

[Black Agnes]

Actually, some of these are turn of the century masonry and wood buildings that put up brick facades. Sometimes these aren't anchored all that effectively & this happens. This isn't all that uncommon, especially in parts of town where these types buildings are still around.

[areafiftyone]

Its funny I was looking for more news on what the creepy protestors were doing cause I can't see them because I am closer to the U.N. and I ran across this story. Freaky that this happens just as the creeps are blocking the streets!

[Xenalyte]

Sounds like the facade (a false front) collapsed, not the whole building. How could that trap people inside the building?

[Howlin]

An "Other news is happening" live thread ping.......alert for those stuck on the war threads.

[Howlin]

Are the protesters really that bad? (Sorry to bring that over here.)

[Cagey]

It is a ghetto - low income run down section of the city.

It is now. Not all that many years it was a mostly working class, safe and clean, neighborhood where people defined where they lived by the name of their church parish.

[goodseedhomeschool]

YES THEY ARE! & apology accepted

[areafiftyone]

I don't know. But if it is one of those 6 story walk up buildings with a store underneath it can trap people who are in the store!

[Pippin]

Prayers being said for those people trapped insidr that building!

[Destro]

During the Dinkins administration (I think) the "residents" would fire bomb or throw bags of cement at arriving Firefighters to Washington Heights for sport. Killed a couple of firefighters too in this way if memory serves me correctly.

[Howlin]

I have to ask questions when I think of them lately......LOL. Or else I forget!

[Timesink]

Washington Heights is a mostly residential area of the city with many five story apartment buildings.

Of questionable construction.

[CFC__VRWC]

Actually, some of these are turn of the century masonry and wood buildings that put up brick facades.

That's the kind of building I meant - if I used the term brownstone incorrectly, my apologies. I know firefighters hate these buildings because the poorly-anchored facades crumble so easily, the structural timbers are old and often treated with creosote and other materials that are highly flamable and give off highly toxic fumes when burned, and because so many of them have few exits and narrow winding hallways and stairwells, all poorly lit.

[goodseedhomeschool]

LOL it's ok I too have gotten older and I do the same thing, or eles I will forget myself. I pray tose folks in that building will be ok.

[Willie Green]

Prayers for those who may be injured.

But if it was the facade that collapsed, why can't people "trapped" inside get out through a back or side door?

[Black Agnes]

Make no mistake. The older sections of Manhattan are a nighmare for fire and rescue personnel.

[Cagey]

Of questionable construction.

The original construction was rock solid. It's these false fronts and lack of routine maintenance now that causes these problems.