Scary Moment When Ceiling of South Portland, Maine, Restaurant Collapses

No one was seriously injured in a roof collapse at Longhorn Steakhouse in South Portland, Maine.

The Portland Press Herald reports that the collapse happened Friday, March 28, around 6 pm in a pretty crowded restaurant. 6 pm is definitely Mainer's dinner time, and South Portland Fire Chief Phil Selberg said there were around 150 people in the restaurant when the ceiling fell. The good news is that employees noticed tiles falling and actually moved customers out of the way.

Customers responded instantly when the roof collapsed at Longhorn Steakhouse in South Portland, Maine

Before emergency crews arrived on the scene, people out to dinner jumped to help. Randal Doughty commented on the Maine Police Fire EMS Sherrif Scanner Radio Facebook post that he was one of the people who was holding up the ceiling. Amanda was gratitude for the quick thinking customers,

I was there for dinner with my family. Thank you for reacting the way you guys did.

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No one was seriously injured when the roof collapsed at the South Portland, Maine, Longhorn Steakhouse

EMS crews evaluated one person, but they didn't want to go to the hospital, according to the Portland Press Herald.  South Portland Fire Chief Phil Selberg told the Press Herald,

This situation could have been much worse. The collapsed section appeared to be an architectural element of the ceiling and was quite substantial. We are fortunate that no one was seriously injured.

Craig Oster was there eating and told me,

That was crazy. I've never experienced anything like that!! I'm glad we had a few minutes warning that something was happening because this could have been so much worse.

So glad that everyone is okay. Right now, the building is being given a once over by inspectors with the South Portland Code Enforcement Office.