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Afternoon roof collapse forces Cost Less closure
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This view of the partial roof collapse at Cost Less on North Yosemite Avenue in Oakdale shows the debris that fell in on a portion of the produce section at the front of the store. The collapse occurred about 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 17 and the store is temporarily closed as a result of the incident. Modesto Fire Department Photo
MARG JACKSON
mjackson@oakdaleleader.com
Published: Mar 19, 2025, 4:42 AM

Two people suffered injuries when a portion of the roof collapsed at the Cost Less market in the 800 block of North Yosemite Avenue in Oakdale on Monday afternoon, prompting a full evacuation of the facility.

Modesto Fire, Oakdale Police and Oak Valley Ambulance all responded to the scene at about 2:30 p.m. on March 17.

Heavy rain and wind in the area Monday – following a few days of rain during the past week – may have contributed to the collapse.

Fire department officials on scene said that an estimated 25-by-25-foot portion of the roof in the right front corner of the store, over the produce section, fell in. As it came down, fire officials said, the collapse also broke the store’s fire sprinkler system.

There was water inside the store and responding authorities helped evacuate shoppers and store personnel.

“I sent my two lieutenants,” Oakdale Police Chief Jerry Ramar said, to help assess the situation. “We also had our Animal Control Officers out there to help, we did send a building inspector out there, our Public Works people were there.”

Ramar said city workers and police personnel responded to assist the emergency crews in any way they could and also utilized the police department drone.

“We flew our drone to see if we could pick up any heat signatures and to make sure that everyone was out of the building; out of harm’s way,” Ramar explained.

Oak Valley Ambulance treated those injured, with one taken to a hospital. Both reportedly were in the area of the collapse.

Ramar said after responding crews were certain everyone was out of the building and the situation was assessed, the building was turned back over to company officials for Cost Less, to allow for clean-up work to begin.

That effort started quickly; as dumpsters were brought in for the disposal of debris and product impacted by the event.

The local Cost Less will be closed temporarily – no date has been announced for a re-opening – and local residents that shop there can go instead to the nearby Riverbank location. Cost Less is at 6331 Oakdale Road in Riverbank.