The front portion of a vacant row home across from the Reading Parking Authority’s Walnut & Poplar garage collapsed early Wednesday onto the sidewalk and part of Poplar Street, forcing the evacuation of the neighboring home.
The Reading Fire Department was notified shortly after 1 a.m. that the front of 143 Poplar — a two-story, end-of-row house — had partially collapsed, city Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss said. No one was injured.
Four residents of the adjoining home at 141 Poplar were forced to evacuate and won’t be able to return for at least a few days, if at all, the fire marshal said. For safety reasons, city fire and building officials ordered an emergency demolition.
Fire department personnel remained at the scene overnight and Wednesday morning.
A demolition contractor removes debris after the front of 143 Poplar St. partially collapsed early Wednesday. (Steven Henshaw – Reading Eagle)
A demolition contractor began work after daybreak to clear some of the debris from the street and sidewalk.
The street is barricaded at Walnut Street, but the parking garage can still be accessed via Washington street on the north end.
As of noon Wednesday, it had yet to be determined if the collapsed building shared a wall with the adjoining home.
The occupants of a neighboring home won’t be able to return until it is deemed structurally safe to occupy the building, Searfoss said, adding that it’s possible that building also will have to come down.
“We don’t know when they’ll be able to re-occupy,” the fire marshal said.
Demolishing the rest of 143 Poplar will be a tedious process because the street is so narrow, allowing little room for large equipment to maneuver.
“They’re going to be taking their time with the demolition,” Searfoss said.
He said 143 Poplar was in a state of disrepair for some time, evidenced by floor and ceiling collapses caused by water infiltration.