HAGERSTOWN — At least three people were injured after a church under construction collapsed in Hagerstown Tuesday afternoon, according to Hagerstown Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Adam Hopkins.
Just after 2:30 p.m. the Hagerstown Fire Department and allied emergency services agencies were alerted for a building collapse with people trapped at 1015 Rose Hill Ave., between East Wilson Blvd. and 3rd Street in Hagerstown’s South End, according to a release issued by the fire department.
“The first unit arrived on the scene at 2:39 p.m.,” Hopkins said. “The first patient was extricated at 2:52 p.m. and the second patient at 2:55 p.m.”
Three workers were injured; one refused transported to the hospital.
The injured were workers constructing the building at the Hagerstown First Church of God, Hopkins said.
He added that the two workers removed from the collapse debris were transported to Meritus Medical Center, a trauma center east of Hagerstown with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
According to the release, construction crews were in the process of setting wooden trusses when workers heard cracking noises and began evacuating the structure.
Hopkins said that the trapped workers had partially self-extricated from the collapsed materials prior to crews reaching them.
“Crews from across Washington County worked together quickly to stabilize a dangerous scene, access the trapped workers and bring the incident to a successful outcome,” Hopkins said.
The incident required a coordinated, multi-agency response involving fire, rescue, EMS and law enforcement personnel, Hopkins said.
Units from Hagerstown, Funkstown, Leitersburg, Community Rescue Service, Halfway, Williamsport, Smithsburg, Boonsboro, Washington County Division of Emergency Services Technical Rescue Unit, EMS supervisors and command personnel responded.
Hopkins said units were also assisted by the Hagerstown Police Department, the police department’s drone unit, Hagerstown Code Enforcement and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health.
Todd Bowman is a local and national journalist specializing in public safety news. Follow his work on all social media platforms @BreakingBowman.