NORTH WINDHAM – The severe set of thunderstorms that rolled through the Lakes Region at about 6:30 p.m. Monday wreaked havoc at the local Dollar Tree store in the Shaw’s Plaza in North Windham.

An elbow joint of a 6-inch cast-iron pipe that drained the flat roof of the store broke and sent water cascading into the front end of the store, said Windham Deputy Fire Chief John Wescott.

“We had that storm move through and it rained a lot and we had an awful lot of water there in a short amount of time. One of the roof drains inside the Dollar Tree broke, and thus everything on the roof got into the store,” he said.

Wescott said the elbow joint broke apart and fell to the floor. And while the roof stayed intact, several ceiling panels of the drop-ceiling got soaked and fell. Product in the area of the store where the pipe burst was also ruined, he said.

Three employees and several customers were in the store at the time and no one was hurt, Wescott said.

The drainpipe crosses through the area above the ceiling tiles and leads to a catch basin to the rear of the store.

Firefighters from Gray, Raymond, Standish and Windham worked with brooms to remove water for about an hour and a half. Wescott said the store would shut down for a few days as cleanup and repair of the drain-pipe took place. As of Wednesday morning, the store had not reopened. A representative from the store said she had no comment on when the store would reopen. Dollar Tree is building a new store beside NAPA Auto Parts.

Fire crews work to remove water out the front entrance of the Dollar Tree store in Shaw’s Plaza in North Windham Monday night.