Part Of Building’s Roof Collapses

Portions of a Spokane Valley building crumbled under the weight of melting snow Monday night.

The northern half of the roof on a building at 1419 N. Thierman collapsed about 8:40 p.m., blowing out the rear wall and a garage door in an adjoining business.

Econo-Heat/Omni, which manufactures industrial oil furnaces, and RPM Merit, a transmission parts warehouse, share the 15,000 square-foot building. Both businesses were closed when the roof collapsed.

Frank Schubach, Econo-Heat/Omni vice president, was uncertain how long the business would be closed. County building inspectors were meeting Tuesday to decide if Econo-Heat/Omni’s portion of the building could be repaired, Schubach said.

Econo-Heat/Omni employs 15 people.

Although damage to RPM Merit was not as severe, the business was closed Tuesday. Workers there hope the warehouse will reopen Thursday.

RPM Merit employs about 10 people. , DataTimes