OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – Before snow starts melting away this week it has claimed a pair of roofs in Oshkosh as victims.
A large chunk of the roof for Ye Old Goat vintage market in Oshkosh was missing following a collapse Sunday evening around 4 p.m.
According to owner, Meghan Keller, wood dangled from the ceiling and roof trusses were lying on the floor.
“The fire department came out, turned off our gas, turned off our water, the WPS came out, cut the power,” says Keller.
Oshkosh fire and police departments responded, in addition to WPS, and the building was deemed unsafe.
“They sent two guys in just to make sure the gas and water was turned off and that was it, “Keller explains. “They came straight out and we were informed that no one was allowed in.”
She’s hoping to be able to get back inside sometime next week.
“Trying to keep everybody patient and positive has been a struggle to say the least but we’re going to pull together,” says Keller.
Heavy snow is being blamed for the incident, as well as for a roof collapse that happened last Tuesday at a store called Five Below, which is located in a strip mall.
Due to that collapse, other businesses next door in the strip mall have had to close their doors.
“This is my 20th year, this is the first roof collapse that I’ve seen because of snow,” says John Holland with the Oshkosh Fire Department.
He’s uncertain on when the other businesses will be able to reopen.
He adds that removing snow from rooftops can be tricky work.
“As far as shoveling your roof off, while that does remove your snow, the hazards there are just phenomenal,” says Holland.
He urges homeowners and business owners not to do it themselves, but rather have a structural engineer inspect the roof.
Keller says luckily no one was injured or inside the building at the time of the incident.
“Ultimately it’s just stuff so as long as nobody was injured that’s all I can ask for,” said Keller.
Oshkosh Building Chief, John Zarate, has pointed out that tate code requires roofs in Winnebago County to be able to hold 40 pounds per square foot.
