MOORHEAD, MINN. (KFGO) – A roof collapse caused by snow build-up did significant damage to a section of St. Francis De Sal Catholic Church on 15th Avenue North in Moorhead. The collapse was reported just after 12 noon Sunday. Deputy Fire Chief Benton Hicks told KFGO News, it was a “miracle” no one was hurt.
Church services were canceled due to snow and only two people were in the church at the time. They got out safely. The roof came down on the kitchen area which would have been serving coffee to church members had there been services. Hicks said it could have been a “disaster.”
Hicks estimates a 50 to 75 foot length of the church roof crashed “flat to the ground.” Firefighters had to shovel snow out of the center area of the church where the collapse occurred in order to close the doors.
One parishioner told KFGO News snow had been cleared from the roof of the church a week ago. Hicks said heavy, wet snow was the cause of the cave-in.
It was the third roof collapse caused by snow in the Fargo-Moorhead area Sunday.
Early Sunday morning, a section of flat roof collapsed into the offices at Trail King Industries in the West Fargo’s industrial park. The pressure from the roof cave-in blew out windows and caused significant damage to the area below. It also sheared a gas line on the roof, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished.
Late Sunday morning, a portion of roof came down on the auto bay and work area of Matt’s Automotive Service on 1st Avenue North in Moorhead. Fire officials say both were the result of a heavy snow load.
