The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal says six people were hospitalized after the floor collapsed at a wedding venue in Tamworth on Saturday evening. Fire Marshal Sean Toomey tells News 9 a wedding ceremony had just begun when the floor collapsed, sending people falling into the basement. Toomey estimated the fall to be about eight feet. Toomey said 144 people were in the venue’s Sap House building at the time. Toomey said about 70 people ended up falling or sliding into the basement when the floor gave way. This happened at the Preserve at Chocorua on Philbrick Neighborhood Road. The road remains closed. Tamworth is a small town in eastern New Hampshire, in the Lakes Region near the White Mountains. Six people were taken to area hospitals, and multiple other guests were treated on scene. Toomey says one was flown to Maine Medical Center by helicopter with lower body injuries. The Fire Marshal says everyone’s injuries are non-life threatening.A spokesperson for Maine Health said they had received three patients by ambulance. Others were taken to other facilities, according to the spokesperson. As of 10 p.m. Saturday, Toomey said only two people remained hospitalized. Toomey said when first responders arrived, they learned that venue staff and guests had already given first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who had fallen through the collapsed floor. The cause of the collapse is being investigated, but Toomey said there was probably more people in the structure that there should have been. “We’ll look at fire code and building code and evaluate that as part of our investigation,” the Fire Marshal said.In 2017, News 9 covered a fire at this same venue that destroyed a historic barn. Philbrick Neighborhood Road was reopened as of 8 p.m. Saturday night.This is a breaking news story. Updates will be posted as they become available.
TAMWORTH, N.H. —
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal says six people were hospitalized after the floor collapsed at a wedding venue in Tamworth on Saturday evening.
Fire Marshal Sean Toomey tells News 9 a wedding ceremony had just begun when the floor collapsed, sending people falling into the basement. Toomey estimated the fall to be about eight feet.
Toomey said 144 people were in the venue’s Sap House building at the time. Toomey said about 70 people ended up falling or sliding into the basement when the floor gave way.
New Hampshire State Fire Marshal
New Hampshire State Fire Marshal
This happened at the Preserve at Chocorua on Philbrick Neighborhood Road. The road remains closed.
Tamworth is a small town in eastern New Hampshire, in the Lakes Region near the White Mountains.
Six people were taken to area hospitals, and multiple other guests were treated on scene. Toomey says one was flown to Maine Medical Center by helicopter with lower body injuries. The Fire Marshal says everyone’s injuries are non-life threatening.
A spokesperson for Maine Health said they had received three patients by ambulance. Others were taken to other facilities, according to the spokesperson.
As of 10 p.m. Saturday, Toomey said only two people remained hospitalized.
Toomey said when first responders arrived, they learned that venue staff and guests had already given first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who had fallen through the collapsed floor.
The cause of the collapse is being investigated, but Toomey said there was probably more people in the structure that there should have been.
“We’ll look at fire code and building code and evaluate that as part of our investigation,” the Fire Marshal said.
In 2017, News 9 covered a fire at this same venue that destroyed a historic barn.
Philbrick Neighborhood Road was reopened as of 8 p.m. Saturday night.
This is a breaking news story. Updates will be posted as they become available.