2 Escape Unhurt as Furniture Store Roof Collapses

An Anaheim businessman and his salesclerk narrowly escaped injury when the roof of his furniture store collapsed Wednesday evening.

Kimio Tamura, 73, said he and Susan McGuire, 33, were at work at East West Furniture, 2929 W. Ball Road, Wednesday afternoon when they heard creaking. As they fled the building, Tamura saw the roof drop about a foot, Tamura said.

Tamura, who leases the space, said he called the Los Angeles owners of the building and that they promised they would take care of the problem. He and McGuire then returned to work.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Tamura and McGuire heard more loud creaking and again ran out of the building. The roof came down with such force “it was like a hurricane,” Tamura said. One wall of the building buckled and a screen door was damaged, he said.

Anaheim police and fire officials said they do not know why the roof collapsed and that an investigation is under way.