Building collapses in downtown Freeport

FREEPORT — A building has collapsed into a pile of rubble in downtown Freeport.

The Journal-Standard reports emergency responders were picking up pieces of the building after the Wednesday morning collapse. Authorities say no one was injured. Other buildings nearby have closed for the day. That includes the Stephenson County Courthouse.

The newspaper reports that state Rep. Jim Sacia owns the building and it once was his campaign office. He bought the building in 2002 and it has been used for community events.

Sacia says he has "no idea what made it come down."

Freeport Fire Department battalion chief Jim Blackbourn says gas service to the building has been shut off. He described multiple blocks of the northwestern Illinois city as "at a standstill."