Building in Brooks collapses

A building in Brooks, Minn., collapsed Tuesday afternoon but no one was injured and none of the surrounding buildings were damaged, according to the Red Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The building, which had once housed Hartz Grocery, was demolished for the sake of public safety, the agency said Wednesday.

Emergency responders found the original roof had collapsed and pushed out a portion of the north wall, sending bricks 25 feet away from the side of the building. Pieces of the building were still falling down after responders arrived.

Determining the building was unsafe, county officials called Field Drainage Inc. of Brooks to tear it down, the sheriff's office said.

Scott Merrit, a former Brooks resident now in White Lake, Mich., is the owner of the building. The city and county plans to work with him to get the rubble cleaned up as soon as possible.

1/3: The old Hartz Grocery building in Brooks, Minn., collapsed Tuesday and Red Lake County officials decided to demolish it for the sake of public safety. Photo credit: Red Lake County Sheriff's Office.

2/3: The old Hartz Grocery building in Brooks, Minn., collapsed Tuesday and Red Lake County officials decided to demolish it for the sake of public safety. Photo credit: Red Lake County Sheriff's Office.

3/3: The old Hartz Grocery building in Brooks, Minn., collapsed Tuesday and Red Lake County officials decided to demolish it for the sake of public safety. Photo credit: Red Lake County Sheriff's Office.