NH Hotel Explosion 'Does Not Appear To Be Criminal': Fire Marshal

LEBANON, NH — A explosion was reported at an extended day hotel in Lebanon Tuesday. Lebanon firefighters were called to an alarm activation around 5:15 a.m. at the Element Hotel on Foot Hill Street. As crews arrived and entered the building, the explosion occurred on the first floor.

After that, a second explosion was reported, as ambulances were called to the building to assist.

"Two fire fighters were injured and were transported to the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment, their injuries were not life threatening," according Anthony Booth of the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office. "Also, eight guests of the hotel sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at area hospitals. All of the guests of the hotel were displaced after the explosion and were moved to another area hotel."

The cause of the explosion and surrounding incident are still under investigation by the fire marshals and Lebanon firefighters.

"The cause of the explosion does not appear to be criminal in nature and was contained to only the hotel building," Booth said.

The hotel will be closed for the foreseeable future due to the "significant amount of damage to the structure."

The corporate news office of Marriott International did not respond to a request for comment about the incident at post time.

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