Demolition of French Quarter building set to get underway

Wednesday morning, the building in the 800 block of Royal Street had been labeled a danger. By afternoon, the structure was facing complete demolition.

WATCH: TV report

The building had a partial collapse a day earlier. Then more of the building came crumbling down and sent everyone nearby running for cover.

VIEW: Images of collapse

"It's like a big cloud of smoke came down the street and dusted my whole shop down," said Jeff Schooler, who manages a business next to the compromised building.

"The fire department and everybody was running. It looked like 9-11," he said.

The stories of the building pancaked one top on each other and toppled into the street. City leaders say the building is was constructed in 1810.

"Look at the bricks, there is no mortar on the bricks at all," said neighbor Norman Landry, assessing the debris in the street. "The mortar turned to dust, that's what makes it fall."

The fire chief says no one was injured in the collapse, but people are still being kept away.

"Well be on the scene as safety officers," said New Orleans Fire Department Chief Tim McConnell.

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Demolition of French Quarter building set to get underway