Fair Arena Said Safe After Chunk of Ceiling Falls

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma State Fair officials and building inspectors said the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City is safe after a chunk of ceiling fell from the building this week.

But inspectors acknowledge more debris could fall.

A 12-inch-by-4-inch piece of the ceiling fell Tuesday -- just days before thousands began arriving for Friday's start of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show.

The Zahl-Ford structural engineering firm investigated this week's incident and company vice president Steve Ford says inspectors found there is no immediate safety threat.

"Safety is obviously our number one concern. Always has been, always will be. So at this time, we have restricted access to the upper seating bowl just as an abundance of caution," said Tim O'Toole," said Oklahoma State Fair president Tim O'Toole.

Officials have cleared the American Quarterhorse Youth Association to hold its championship show at the arena this weekend. 

Engineers believe they may know next week what caused the ceiling section to fall.