Firefighters and guests hurt in Lebanon hotel explosion
FirefighterNation Staff
LEBANON, New Hampshire — Two firefighters and several guests were injured in an explosion at a Lebanon hotel according to WMUR.
Firefighters were called to the Element Hotel on Foothill Road at approximately 5:15 a.m. for an activated fire alarm and reported explosion.
Fire Chief Chris Christopoulos told WMUR that a second explosion occurred in the hotel’s mechanical room as firefighters were fighting the fire.
“As they forced that door open, they experienced an explosion, and both the two firefighters, a captain and the on-duty firefighter were injured,” Chief Christopoulos said.
Christopoulos said that the firefighter suffered a broken arm and broken rib.
The explosion blew out a section of an exterior wall, bent the elevator, and destroyed fireproof doors.
New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Paul Parisi told WMUR that based on the damage it appears the explosion is related to a gas incident.
Officials say that the hotel will be closed for the foreseeable future.
