A deck collapsed in Flat Rock Thursday evening sending 5 people to the hospital in Hendersonville.
Chief Gary Brown of the Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue Squad says the family was renting the cottage at the Highland Lake Inn for a family reunion.
Brown says the family was out on the deck having a cookout when the nails pulled away from the home and the whole deck collapsed. He says when the deck was built there were no codes governing the construction and that the nails used were too short.
About 9 people were on the deck when it gave way. A grill fell on one of the individuals and lit him on fire. He suffered second degree burns to his head and other parts of his body. He also received a broken eye socket. Another family member got a broken foot and others suffered scrapes and burns.
Shirley Simmons of the Highland Lake Inn says all the buildings are inspected from time to time and feels the collapse was due to the rain storms that rolled through prior to the collapse.
Brown says a building inspector has been called out to inspect this deck.
If you feel your porch or deck is deteriorating or are not sure if it can hold people, Tim Williams, who is a licensed general contractor as well as a licensed home inspector says you should hire either a structural engineer, general contractor, or an architect to look at it for you.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement