Section of metro-east factory roof collapses during thunderstorm
A section of the roof at a Red Bud manufacturing plant collapsed Tuesday during a thunderstorm, but no injuries were reported.
The damage occurred at the Roeslein & Associates’ factory known as Roeslein Modular Fabrication at 401 Randolph St.
Red Bud Fire Chief Sean Landgraf said the apparent cause of the collapse was water on the roof, adding that employees were “lucky” no one was under the section that caved.
Radar estimates indicate Red Bud received 2 inches of rain from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., according to Patrick Walsh, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.
Landgraf said the call for help was placed at 1:34 p.m. He said it was raining heavily when firefighters arrived.
A representative from Roeslein could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Red Bud Mayor Susan Harbaugh said along with the firefighters, police officers and city utility workers responded to Roeslein.
Utility workers shut off the power and disconnected the gas to the factory, the mayor said.
“We had very heavy rain for over an hour,” Harbaugh said.
Landgraf said activities at the plant include pipe fabrication, welding and electrical work. The firm is a major employer in the city, he added.
