A thick layer of pigeon waste that mixed with recent rains is being blamed as the likely cause behind the partial collapse of a gas station’s awning Friday.

The accident happened around 10:30 a.m. at the Shell station and convenience store on Fortuna Road, according to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, which confirmed that no one was injured.

Jose Lopez, owner of a nearby appliance store, said he heard a loud noise and and saw the station’s canopy fall onto a BMW sedan and a Hummer, which was towing another vehicle. Lopez said the canopy was covered in 4 to 5 inches of pigeon waste.

Management at the Shell station declined to comment on the accident.

Lopez said Friday morning that the gas station remained closed, but the adjoining Burger King was open.

Maj. Leon Wilmot said the sheriff’s office had received a call describing a collapse with vehicles and people underneath. Wilmot said he could not confirm if any vehicles were damaged, but stressed that no people were hurt.

“There were no injuries, which is a good thing. That’s a pretty heavily traveled area.”

The awning collapsed on all four sides, coming all the way to the ground on one side.

“Our officers are not structural engineers,” said Wilmot, “but a large amount of pigeon excrement has built up on that roof. It had been up there quite awhile.

“Initial information says that because of heavy rains, it is being speculated that the pigeon excrement made the awning collapse the way it did.”

Lopez said inspectors need to pay better attention to situations like the canopy and its heavy load of excrement.

“Inspectors pick on smaller businesses, not on bigger stores,” the Foothills businessman said.