LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A tennis court at a Lincoln sports complex collapsed Thursday afternoon, but nobody was injured because the normally busy facility happened to be empty at the time, officials said.
Crews from Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded to the collapse just before 1 p.m. Thursday at the Ethel S. Abbott Sports Complex. The balloon-like structure comprised of a metal framework covered by a canvas fabric encompassed 80,000 square feet, Assistant Chief Pat Borer said.
“We know the (framework) collapsed, then the fabric cover deflated,” Borer said.
The collapse occurred minutes before tennis teams were scheduled to practice, he confirmed, meaning only staff members were in the complex when it came down. Those staff members were able to safely escape.
Fire and rescue crews searched the area upon arriving and are certain no one was inside by the time the fabric dome fully deflated, Borer said.
Borer said the cause of the collapse is under investigation. There was no snow accumulated on the dome when it collapsed, he said.
“We just have no idea at this time what caused it,” he said.
Electricity to the building was shut off to ensure electrical wiring didn’t pose a threat. There are no natural gas lines going in or out of the complex, Borer said.
A complex staffer told the Lincoln Journal Star that she heard a loud pop before seeing the bubble collapsing.
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