Mattoon building collapse - Nathan Ward photo 2

MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - No injuries were reported after a building came tumbling down in Mattoon Thursday afternoon. 

According to Mattoon Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss, firefighters were on the scene before the call came in just after 1 p.m.

Firefighters quickly searched the building and found no one inside. 

Hilligoss emphasized that an explosion inside the building didn't cause the collapse. Ameren immediately responded after the collapse broke a gas line coming into the building. 

PHOTOS | Click for a gallery of images of the Mattoon building 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 that after the collapse, there was a large plume of dust. 

Eight businesses were housed inside the building, with The Joint Smoke Shop and Little Caesars suffering the most damage. 

It's unclear what caused the two-story building to collapse. 

A structural engineer will be called to investigate. The tobacco store will have to be completely torn down.

Road closures

The Mattoon Fire Department said that a few roads around the building will remain closed. The road closures include:

  • Western Avenue from 19th to 20th Street
  • Eastbound lane of Prairie from 19th to 20th Street

Employee describes escape as building collapses

Stephanie McKittrick spoke with WAND News Reporter La'Miya Starnes and said she was inside the smoke shop at North 19th Street and Western Avenue in Mattoon when it collapsed.

In Mattoon, what was once a place where you could get your nails done, get a haircut, or even visit a tobacco store is now a pile of bricks and debris after a building collapsed.

"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.

"I'm just so grateful that I was able to get out, like my Little Caesars friends were able to get out, and that we're all good," McKittrick continued.

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 again checked the building to ensure 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."

Despite the chaos, many in the community stepped in to help, including Ameren and Charleston's collapse unit.

"That's one thing that we love about Mattoon: anytime something does happen, we have great communication. We've got good citizens, good department heads that come in, jump in, and we help each other," said Mattoon City Manager Kyle Gill. 

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