Demolition crews began tearing down a historic building in downtown Merced Monday after an early morning fire destroyed the structure.
However, the process took a dangerous turn when an excavator became stuck in the still-smoldering rubble, requiring a larger machine to assist, ABC 30 reports.
The fire, which broke out around 6:30 a.m. at the corner of 22nd and M Streets, engulfed the three-story Romanesque-style building. Once Merced County’s first high school in 1897, the structure was later converted into a library before sitting vacant for decades.
Crews worked throughout the day to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Despite their efforts, the historic building could not be saved. The red brick structure, which had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, had recently been considered for restoration, but the project was deemed too costly.
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As of Monday evening, the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
