ASTORIA, Ore. — A large portion of Buoy Beer Company's Astoria brewery and restaurant collapsed Tuesday evening as the large, warehouse-style building's roof caved in.
The U.S. Coast Guard and first responders deployed to the building, which sits on the water near the mouth of the Columbia River, shortly after 6 p.m., said Astoria City Manager Brett Estes.
The brewery indicated on social media that staff are unharmed.
"Everyone is safe," Buoy said in social media posts, including a photo showing the massive scale of the building collapse.
Estes added that the restaurant was closed for the day and he does not believe anyone was inside the building at the time of the collapse. He said officials are working to determine what caused of the collapse.
Astoria Fire Department confirmed that there was initially a gas leak when that portion of the building collapsed, but crews were able to shut off the gas relatively quickly. There was also a significant water leak discovered.
The brewery's popular waterfront taproom and restaurant will be closed indefinitely.
On Wednesday, the company said it's now trying to figure out how to keep its employees working.
"We are working on plans to keep our entire team working and figure out ways to get back to brewing, as our brewhouse and fermentation facility has not been affected," David Kroening, president of Buoy Beer Company, said in a statement.