Customers in a Home Depot store in Coquitlam, B.C. were evacuated Friday morning, after a weighty snow pack caused a canopy surrounding the front entrance to buckle.
Coquitlam Fire Chief Tony Delmonico said the evacuation was purely a precautionary measure and no-one was injured.
"Our concern of course was for the patrons and staff inside,'' he said.
But Delmonico said the partial collapse of the Home Depot canopy may be a signal to owners of other stores and residents in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, which has been clobbered by four snow storms this week, leaving many roof tops deep in snow.
"This is a concern,'' said Delmonico, adding that other safety of other buildings in the region would have to be assessed on a case by case basis.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry.
