02-21-2011, 05:22 PM
A vacant restaurant on South Broadway will have to be torn down after its roof caved in Tuesday under the weight of snow and ice.
Fire officials warn that warmer temperatures and sunshine do not mean other buildings are in the clear.
"If there's any question, certainly, they should get out and get the snow off sooner rather than later," state Deputy Fire Marshal Rob Farley said.
Owner Joe Giuffrida of Methuen had planned to turn the former Hooters at 327 S. Broadway into an ice-cream parlor. He and his two brothers own Jay Gee's Ice Cream in Methuen. Now they must tear down the building Jay Gee's paid $775,000 for in September.
"What are you going to do?" Giuffrida said outside the building yesterday.
The roof caved in and debris blocked the front door. The building is not safe to enter, he said.
"We're going to secure the area right now, this week," Giuffrida said.
Nobody had shoveled the roof this winter, he said, which meant snow from every one of the storms that has hit New England was sitting on top of the empty building.
Salem Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson said snow on the roofs of vacant buildings in Salem ââ¬â especially commercial spaces, which tend to have flat roofs ââ¬â is a concern in Salem.
Snow and ice can build up on an unheated roof, he said, and can get heavier as snow melts during the day and turns to ice at night.
"The dead load that's on top of these structures is going to increase," Emanuelson said.
The Fire Department keeps an eye on several larger, vacant structures in town, including the old Rockingham Lumber building and the Coca-Cola plant.
"Our big concern is people going into them, whether it's vandals or kids exploring them or people seeking shelter," he said.
Fire officials warn that warmer temperatures and sunshine do not mean other buildings are in the clear.
"If there's any question, certainly, they should get out and get the snow off sooner rather than later," state Deputy Fire Marshal Rob Farley said.
Owner Joe Giuffrida of Methuen had planned to turn the former Hooters at 327 S. Broadway into an ice-cream parlor. He and his two brothers own Jay Gee's Ice Cream in Methuen. Now they must tear down the building Jay Gee's paid $775,000 for in September.
"What are you going to do?" Giuffrida said outside the building yesterday.
The roof caved in and debris blocked the front door. The building is not safe to enter, he said.
"We're going to secure the area right now, this week," Giuffrida said.
Nobody had shoveled the roof this winter, he said, which meant snow from every one of the storms that has hit New England was sitting on top of the empty building.
Salem Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson said snow on the roofs of vacant buildings in Salem ââ¬â especially commercial spaces, which tend to have flat roofs ââ¬â is a concern in Salem.
Snow and ice can build up on an unheated roof, he said, and can get heavier as snow melts during the day and turns to ice at night.
"The dead load that's on top of these structures is going to increase," Emanuelson said.
The Fire Department keeps an eye on several larger, vacant structures in town, including the old Rockingham Lumber building and the Coca-Cola plant.
"Our big concern is people going into them, whether it's vandals or kids exploring them or people seeking shelter," he said.