Firefighters were needed to help keep an apartment building’s wall up after a vehicle plowed through a part of it on Wednesday.
For the third time in less than two weeks, crews from the structural collapse team were sent to stabilize a building after an emergency incident, Ottawa Fire Services said in a post. It happened around 4:52 p.m. on July 8, after two vehicles crashed at the intersection of Metcalfe and Cooper streets.
Crews were there within three minutes and saw that there was no one trapped in either vehicle, but one of them struck the exterior wall of 214 Metcalfe St. Before removing the vehicle, firefighters disconnected its battery and absorbed any leaking fluid.
The structural collapse team worked to support the façade directly above the window.
“Following initial stabilization, a double raker shore was installed to prevent the façade from falling forward onto the sidewalk,” crews said.
The impact dislodged a section of cinder block that was support the corner of the front entrance, causing the building’s front door to shift. The building’s supervisor was told by officials to restrict use of the door until full repairs were made.
Finally, the team put a sheet of plywood over the window and stayed until city staff fenced off the area.