Roof collapses at Regina pawn shop

A roof collapse at a Regina pawn shop is serving as another reminder to be aware of the weight above your head.

On Monday morning the roof collapsed at Absolute Cash at 2916 Dewdney Avenue, causing extensive damage. The store’s manager Chris Wright says luckily it did not happen several hours later.

“There would’ve been people in there,” Wright said outside the store. “We’re usually pretty busy in the mornings during the week at this time of the month. So I’m just really glad there was no one inside and no one was hurt.”

Gerard Kay, deputy fire chief for the Regina Fire Department, said it started as a relatively routine call for the smell of natural gas around Dewdney Avenue. Upon arrival, the severity of the call changed.

“The roof had collapsed,” he said. “The gas lines had been severed that were feeding the rooftop units.”

It is the second collapse in Regina in four days. On Thursday the roof caved in at a south end strip mall, over a vacant area that used to be a day care centre.

As of April 8, SGI alone has received 154 claims for roof collapses across the province this year.

Brenden Owens of Optimum Roofing Ltd. says snow related collapses can be avoided.

“There’s a lot of weight behind when there’s a pile of snow on your roof,” he said. “If you clear it you’re going to obviously reduce that weight and reduce the chance of a roof collapse.”

Owens suggests owners of buildings with flat roofs should call someone to clear it safely. For homeowners with slanted roofs there are things they can do, too.

“We don’t recommend going on the roof,” Owens said. “I’d recommend a roof rake. You can get it at most hardware stores and you can reach the front four feet.”