WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — Six people were hospitalized and a seventh person was treated after a residential deck collapsed Sunday in Washington Township, according to the Long Valley First Aid Squad.
Emergency responders were dispatched June 14 for a reported structural collapse with multiple people trapped.
Upon arrival, responders found a large deck that had fallen from a home and become suspended in a tree, creating the potential for further collapse, officials said.
Rescue personnel stabilized the structure using emergency shoring equipment while firefighters secured a gas leak at the scene.
Emergency medical personnel treated seven patients. Six were transported to Morristown Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries within about 30 minutes of crews arriving, according to the Long Valley First Aid Squad.
After the injured were removed from the scene, structural collapse technicians developed a stabilization plan and constructed three temporary support structures, known as T-shores, to prevent additional collapse until a contractor could remove the damaged deck.
The incident drew a large response from Long Valley First Aid Squad EMS and Rescue Services, Saint Clare’s Health, Atlantic Mobile Health and local fire department personnel.
Responders remained on scene for approximately two hours.
Officials noted that the deck was an older structure built under previous building codes.
“We are thankful that those affected by this incident will recover quickly and there was no loss of life,” the Long Valley First Aid Squad said in a statement.
No further information was released.
