Licensing & Inspections at Center of Philadelphia Building Collapse Probe?

A day after the collapse of a building claimed 6 lives in Philadelphia, more questions are being asked about the city’s processes for granting permits and inspecting demolition sites.

City Licensing and Inspections Commissioner Carlton Williams was on the hot seat during a Thursday press conference at the scene. When asked if the backgrounds of contractors were checked out before granting permits, Williams said “On specific jobs yes, in terms of electrical contractor or plumbing contractor, but not specifically to a demolition, no.”

That has many questioning the existing policies the city follows to allow for building and demolition jobs. Mayor Michael Nutter deflected such questions Thursday, saying it’s part of the official investigation, but he says Philadelphians should not be worried about other demolition of construction sites in the city.

Six people are confirmed dead in Wednesday’s collapse. Nutter said today that search and rescue efforts continued through the night and into today despite rumors that they had been temporarily suspended. One woman was pulled alive from the rubble overnight, more than 12 hours after the collapse at 2136 Market Street, which took out a Salvation Army Thrift Store next door.

About 75% of the thrift store rubble has been searched as of midday Thursday.