Re: Disaster Unfolding on Lovers Lane
Special contributor Anaka Johnston happened to be on that block of Lovers when the facade of Maile Nails Salon collapsed. She reports that emergency vehicles from University Park, Highland Park, Dallas, and SMU parked along the streets and outside the store, blocking traffic.
Emergency responders quickly evacuated the people inside the building and assessed whether anyone was hurt. Luckily, there were no injuries.
“It’s very lucky no one was coming in or out,” Dallas Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Stuart Grant told Anaka. “Right now, we’re good.”
As to why the façade collapsed, Grant could only speculate.
“It could’ve been rain, wind, age,” said Grant, “It could’ve been all those cumulative factors together.”
Here are a few more details about the incident:
That portion of Lovers was reopened to traffic about 5 p.m., about three hours after the collapse occurred.
The awning that collapsed spanned the length of five shops. Four of the shops have active businesses. The fifth space is vacant. The ceilings inside the shops are intact.
Three vehicles in front of the storefronts were damaged by the falling debris.
A crew from the City’s Public Works Department immediately cleared the debris away after fire crews finished their work.
A City Building Official and the Fire Marshal will inspect the shops on Monday morning to make sure they are structurally sound. Once that has been determined, the shops can reopen for business.
The guess here is that gravity pulled the awning down.