Buildings collapse at Wash. county fairgrounds

Heavy, wet snow is being blamed for the collapse of four main buildings at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa in southwest Washington.

Sheriff's deputies reported hearing a loud crash near the fairgrounds on Christmas Day. Fair manager Sarah Lawrence said when the manager and caretaker checked Friday, they found the commercial building had collapsed.

Lawrence said the area had three feet of snow and she believes the heavy, wet Christmas Day snow was finally too much for the buildings.

Lawrence said she hopes to have the buildings repaired by the next fair dates on the third week of August. The fair buildings are used year-round for community events such as a Christmas carnival earlier this month, regular bingo games and a steak dinner on Valentine's Day.

The fair celebrated its 100th anniversary this summer.

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Information from: The Daily News, http://www.tdn.com

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