NOFD responds to partial building collapse downtown
The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) is on scene investigating the partial collapse of a three-story commercial building at the corner of Lafayette Street and O'Keefe St. The building's first floor brick facade has collapsed onto the sidewalk and street at O'Keefe St . Cracks and displacements in the exterior walls and a forward bulging in the corner of the building at Lafayette and O'Keefe are noticeable. NOFD will remain on-site for public safety purposes until we are satisfied that mitigation authorities and/or contractors have the incident under control.
The mixed-use building at 938 Lafeyette St. houses an art museum on the first floor and several offices throughout the building. There were few, if any, people in the building at the time of NOFD's arrival. The building is currently unoccupied. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has closed vehicle and pedestrian traffic in all directions within a one-block radius. We ask that you avoid this area of the city center until further notice. Entergy Gas and Electric are also helping to contain this incident.