Mattoon building collapse - Nathan Ward photo 2

MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - An employee of a smoke shop that collapsed in Mattoon Thursday said she is grateful she was able to get out in time and avoid injury. 

Stephanie McKittrick talked with WAND News Reporter La'Miya Starnes and said she was inside The Joint Smoke Shop at North 19th Street and Western Avenue in Mattoon when it collapsed around 1 p.m. Thursday.

WATCH LIVE | WAND News is on-the-air with live coverage through 6 p.m. in Mattoon.

"I was inside the smoke shop and the drywall seemed to pull away from the inside of the building," McKittrick said just a few feet away from the rubble.

She said she went outside when a window busted and saw other parts of the building collapsing. She went next door to alert people at a Little Caesars who all came outside. McKittrick said they called the owners, she made another check of the building to make sure no one was inside, and then the building collapsed.

"It sounded like you're in the middle of a forest and the trees are just snapping."

Firefighters respond

Mattoon Fire Chief Jim Hilligoss said there are no reported injuries and they don't believe anyone is inside the building. Firefighters were expected to do a more thorough check of the building once a gas leak was secured. 

The building also housed a nail business and hair business but there appeared to be little to no damage in that area. It's unknown how the building collapse may impact safety in those businesses. 

Mattoon building collapse - Nathan Ward photo 1

Mattoon Fire Station No. 1 sits diagonal to the building and firefighters responded in one minute after the collapse.

"I initially thought a vehicle ran into the building," Hillgoss said. "It wasn't until I got over there up close that you could see the entire building had collapsed."

Hillgoss said after the collapse there was a large plume of dust. 

PHOTOS | Click for a gallery of images of the Mattoon building collapse

The smoke shop has the most significant damage. It's unclear what caused the two-story building to collapse. 

Road closures

The City of Mattoon posted on Facebook that several roads around the building were closed. The City asked people to stay away from the area to allow emergency responders a safe space to work. The road closures include:

  • 19th Street between Charleston Ave. and Richmond Ave.
  • Broadway between 19th and 21st
  • Western between 19th and 21st
  • Prairie between 19th and 20th

The Charleston Fire Department also responded. 

At this time, Hillgoss said there are no concerns about other portions of the building collapsing. 

WAND News has a crew on scene and will have live reports on WAND News at 4, 5, and 6. 

This is a developing story. 

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