UPDATE: Roads closed after building collapse in Lava Hot Springs
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Update at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday:
The following is a news release from the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office.
The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office has closed Elm Street and 1st Avenue East in Lava Hot Springs due to debris. Roads are expected to remain closed through the night until further notice. We appreciate the public’s cooperation in avoiding the area.
The building at 89 S 1st Avenue East is inaccessible to the public, but the surrounding area is secure. We have deputies patrolling the area to monitor and ensure the public’s safety.
The apartments adjacent to the building remain evacuated, and the two occupants have been notified and have a place to stay the night.
No additional injuries have been reported.
More information will be released as the situation allows. Insurance investigators have been notified and are expected to survey the scene as soon as possible.
Thank you to the agencies who assisted in the response: Lava Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Idaho State Police, Bannock County Search and Rescue, and the Pocatello Fire Department.
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LAVA HOT SPRINGS — Two people were rescued from a collapsed building in Lava Hot Springs on Wednesday afternoon.
Around 3:45 p.m., the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office was called to Blue Moon Bar and Grill at 89 South 1st Avenue East after reports of a collapsed roof. Sheriff Tony Manu tells EastIdahoNews.com the original call came from a person trapped inside the building.
Emergency responders found and rescued two people who were trapped. Deputies are searching to ensure there are no other people inside.
A woman was transported by ambulance to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello for minor injuries, according to a Bannock County news release.
The apartments adjacent to the building have been evacuated, and surrounding roads have been closed. Deputies are still there as authorities make sure the area is safe. They are asking people to avoid the immediate area until further notice.
At this point, it’s unclear what caused the building to collapse. Manu suspects the amount of snow on the roof was the cause, but engineers will need to confirm that.
Law enforcement is being assisted by the Lava Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Idaho State Police, Bannock County Search and Rescue, and the Pocatello Fire Department.
EastIdahoNews.com will provide additional details as they become available.
