MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — An apartment building on Broad Street was reduced to rubble after it partially collapsed on Wednesday night, according to fire crews.

The roof of the building partially caved in around 6:30 p.m. The fire department was only two buildings away from the collapsed residence, so officials were at the scene in a matter of minutes. Once at the scene, officials confirmed the top floor and/or roof had collapsed onto the second floor.

An inspector arrived shortly after and decided the whole building needed to be torn down for safety. Walls in the structure were bowing out, which officials said indicated that the building could completely collapse at any moment.

Residents were evacuated on either side of the building as a precaution. The process started at 7:30 p.m. and lasted about an hour and ten minutes, at which point the building was down and rendered safe, officials said.

After the building was brought down, residents returned to their surrounding apartment buildings. Gas and electricity were checked, and the incident was officially terminated.

Officials said the building was under renovations but that no one has lived there for 11 or 12 years after a fire in the building caused significant damage.