Emergency crews responded Thursday afternoon to structural damage at the American Legion building at 146 Broadhurst Road following severe weather in the area.
Jacksonville Fire Deputy Chief Amy Procopio said crews were dispatched around 2:23 p.m. for reports of potential structural issues.
“When our units arrived on scene, they saw that the roof had mostly been damaged by the storm that came through,” Procopio said. “We’re unsure exactly what caused it, but it is a structural collapse at this time.”
Authorities said they were initially told no one should have been inside the building, but specialized crews conducted a full search to ensure the structure was clear.
“Verbally, we’ve been told that there should not be anybody inside, but we do have crews coming to do a full-on search of the building,” Procopio said.
Storm damage causes structural collapse at American Legion building in Jacksonville
No injuries have been reported.
Officials said some nearby school board modular buildings sustained minor damage, though not to the same extent as the American Legion structure. Those buildings are considered safe, and no employees were hurt.
A heavy law enforcement and fire presence, including Jacksonville Police and Jacksonville Fire crews, remained on scene as responders worked to secure the area and assess the damage.
Procopio said next steps for the building will likely depend on the property owner’s insurance company and whether the structure will be repaired or demolished.
Emergency officials are asking drivers to use caution in the area due to debris and ongoing response efforts.
“There are a lot of emergency service workers out here trying to make the scene safe, and there’s debris in the area as well,” Procopio said. “So just be cautious when driving in the area.”
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The investigation into the collapse and the extent of storm damage remains ongoing.