A building partially collapsed Saturday afternoon at 501 N. 8th Street in Reading, prompting an emergency response and displacing 10 people. Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss said the building’s front bearing wall fell into the street just after 3 p.m. The rear of the building, which was occupied at the time, was safely evacuated. The neighboring property at 503 N. 8th was also cleared as a precaution.
Utility crews shut off gas and electric service while the city works to stabilize the area. A demolition contractor is expected to bring the rest of the building down sometime this weekend. North 8th Street remains closed to through traffic as the investigation and cleanup continue.