Roof collapse at Burbank warehouse ruptures gas line

The roof of a warehouse building in Burbank collapsed and ruptured a gas line Friday morning, and authorities are investigating the cause.

The warehouse, located at 3083 Lima St., is part of a block-long, one-story building that also houses three other businesses, said Burbank Fire Capt. Peter Hendrickson.

[Update 2:29 p.m.: Investigators believe the collapse may have been caused by a blockage in a roof drainage pipe, Hendrickson said.]

The roof collapse caused an estimated 40-by-40-foot hole and broke a gas line, and 10 to 20 people working in the adjacent offices had to evacuate the building, he added.

“The roof is actually on the floor,” Hendrickson said, adding that rain is falling into the building.

Just after 9 a.m., tenants working in the adjacent office called the fire department after smelling gas, Hendrickson said.

“There’s a lot of investigating to do before they’re going to allow people back into the building,” Hendrickson said.

No one was reportedly in the warehouse – which is apparently used for storage – when the roof collapsed.

A damage estimate was not immediately available.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek

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