LONG VALLEY, N.J. — What was supposed to be a joyous afternoon celebration turned into a terrifying ordeal when an elevated back deck detached from a residential home and collapsed, injuring seven people.

The disaster unfolded on Sunday during a backyard gathering. Emergency responders from the Long Valley First Aid Squad, local fire departments, and multiple health networks were dispatched to the scene following frantic 911 calls reporting a structural collapse with several individuals trapped beneath the wreckage.

The homeowners recounted that 11 people were standing on the elevated structure when it suddenly gave way without warning. The group had gathered on the deck to celebrate a teenager’s 15th birthday party.

The impact was swift and violent. The deck plummeted several feet before becoming precariously wedged against a mature tree. The severe shift in structure also ruptured a nearby utility line, triggering an active gas leak that further complicated early rescue efforts. The homeowner, who works professionally as an operating room nurse, immediately sprang into action to check for severe injuries and safely shut off the main gas supply before first responders arrived.

Upon arrival, rescue personnel faced a highly unstable scene. Because the heavy wooden deck remained suspended in the tree, there was an immediate and severe risk of a secondary collapse onto the victims and emergency crews below.

Firefighters immediately pinned the shifting deck with pickets while medical teams began triaging the victims. Of the 11 people on the structure, seven required medical care. Emergency medical services treated the patients on-site, rapidly transporting six individuals to Morristown Medical Center. Authorities confirmed that while the injuries were significant, they are considered non-life-threatening. One patient was admitted overnight for observation but has since been discharged.

Once all patients were safely extricated, specialized structural collapse technicians took over the scene. Using emergency shoring equipment, the team constructed three temporary support structures—known as "T-shores"—to fully secure the heavy debris until a commercial contractor could safely dismantle and remove it.

First responders remained on the scene for roughly two hours to ensure the property was completely safe. Following an initial assessment, officials noted that the deck was an older structure originally built under previous building codes.

The homeowner noted that the deck was likely built in the 1990s and had been meticulously maintained with regular cleaning and sealing over the last 24 years, showing absolutely no prior signs of wood rot or structural failure before the collapse.

In a statement following the incident, the Long Valley First Aid Squad emphasized the unpredictability of structural failures in older constructions. "A lot has changed in building construction over the years. We are thankful that those affected by this incident will recover quickly and there was no loss of life."