News

December 14, 2024 | From New Orleans Fire Department

The NOFD Responds to Partial Building Collapse Downtown

The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) is on the scene investigating the partial collapse of a three-story commercial building at the corner of Lafayette Street and O’Keefe St. The structure’s first floor brick façade has collapsed onto the sidewalk and street at O’Keefe St. Cracks and shifting in the exterior walls, as well as a forward buckle in the building’s corner at Lafayette and O’Keefe are prominent. The NOFD will maintain a presence at the scene for the purpose of public safety until we are satisfied that mitigating agencies and/or contractors have control of the incident. 

 

The mixed-use structure at 938 Lafeyette St. houses an art museum on the first floor and several offices throughout. There were few if any people in the building at the time of NOFD arrival. The building is currently unoccupied. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has blocked both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in all directions in a one block radius. We are asking that this area of downtown be avoided until further notice. Entergy Gas and Electric are also assisting with the mitigation of this incident.