Explosion At Lebanon, New Hampshire Hotel Injures 10

LEBANON, NH (CBS) – An explosion at a Lebanon, New Hampshire hotel on Christmas Eve injured 10 people. Firefighters were called to the Element Hotel on Foothill Street at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday for a fire alarm, and the explosion happened as crews were trying to enter the electrical room on the first floor, the fire marshal said.

The explosion injured two firefighters, as well as eight hotel guests. One of the firefighters suffered a broken arm and broken ribs. All were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Firefighters searched all 129 rooms of the hotel, and found a fire in a utility room on the fifth floor. All 80 guests staying at the hotel had to be moved to another hotel.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion but they say it "does not appear to be criminal in nature." The hotel sustained significant damage and will remain closed for the foreseeable future.