Things ‘looking good’ for bowling alley after potential roof collapse

March 19--WEST HAZLETON -- A snow-related incident has closed a local bowling alley and lounge for the near future.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the Bowl Arena and Ten Pin Lounge on Susquehanna Boulevard around 8 p.m. Friday for a potential roof collapse.

Owners announced Saturday on the Bowl Arena Facebook page that the business would be temporarily closed.

"Nobody is allowed inside the building until an engineer checks the structure. We can't take the risk," the post reads.

WNEP-TV reported that patrons were inside when they heard the building buckling and saw the ceiling began to bow, but staff and patrons were evacuated safely.

Robert Segaria, West Hazleton assistant fire chief, said emergency crews were at the scene for three-and-a-half hours primarily to make sure there were no cracks in the walls as private contractors removed the snow from the roof.

"We kept an eye on cracks, progressing, digressing," Segaria said.

Segaria said there were "feet of snow" on the roof of the building that needed to be shoveled off.

"Oh, there was a lot," he said.

In addition to several bowling league postponements, the page also announced "hopeful" news. The structure is settling back to its normal state, as the snow has been removed.

Segaria said there were "no other signs" of damage to the building, but because of borough code and the building's insurance policy requirements, a structural engineer has to be called to determine if the building can be reopen.

"At this point, things are looking good for Bowl Arena," the page states.

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