Roof Collapses In Pollock Pines

Dorado County firefighters are blaming a mixture of heavy snow and persistent rain for two commercial roof collapses in Pollock Pines Saturday.

Battalion Chief Kurt Taylor said the first roof collapse occured at the Pollock Pines True Value Hardware Store at 10:30 am. The second collapse happened at the Knotty Pine Lanes bowling alley just before midnight.

No injuries were reported at either incident.

Taylor said heavy snow loads can actually be more dangerous when it rains.

Taylor said, "There was already several feet of snow on these roofs. It acts like a sponge and the rain mixes with the snow and multiplies the weight on the roof."

County fire officials are urging residents to monitor their roofs as snow accumulates and to contact their local fire station with any questions.

"With the amount of snow we've got over the last couple of weeks and now rain coming down on top of it, people will have to check that and take action," Taylor said.

County building inspectors will spend Sunday assessing the damages to both businesses.

Myanmar Earthquake: Dead Climb to 60

Two earthquakes hit the southeast Asian country of Myanmar, also known as Burma, on March 24, 2011. The Myanmar earthquakes occurred less than a minute apart and could be felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand.

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Thursday has killed 50 people and injured 40, with the death toll expected to rise slightly, a local administration official said on Friday.

“Total death toll has now reached nearly 60 and several people injured while over 100 buildings were destroyed,” a Civil Administration official based the Myanmar town of Tachilek, close to the epicentre of the quake, told Reuters by telephone.

The quake was centred 111 km north of the Thai town of Chiang Rai. One person was confirmed dead in Thailand.