A dozen firefighters battling a four-alarm blaze  escaped unharmed when the roof of a burning office building on West Elm Street collapsed this morning.
The firefighters were on the third floor of the four-story 47 West Elm St. building, less than a block from Main Street, when the roof collapsed, Fire Chief Kenneth Galligan said.
Witnesses said they could see flames shooting from the top of the building and heavy smoke blanketed part of the street early in the fire, first reported at 6:30 a.m..
The office building  is next to the Elmcourt Hotel and across the way from Brockton District Court . Residents of the hotel escaped safely.
The fire did not spread to the hotel.
City Councilor Michael Brady said efforts were underway this morning to find a new office  for one of the building tenants, Self Help. He said two downtown locations are already being examined.
No injuries were reported as of 9  a.m., but firefighters remained in “defensive” mode battling the fire. Much of the city’s apparatus was sent to fight the blaze, and several neighboring communities assisted, including West Bridgewater.
The building is next to the Elmcourt Hotel, formerly the Bryant Hotel, at 33 West Elm Street.

Raw Video 

WCVB News Report

WBZ News Report