Movie Theater Ceiling Collapses During ‘Captain America’ Screening

Two people who recently went to a screening of Captain America: Brave New World at a theater in Washington state got more for their tickets than they bargained for.

The Wenatchee Valley Firefighters, Local 453 said in a Facebook post that responders were called to a reported ceiling collapse at Liberty Cinema, located at 11 S. Mission St., in Wenatchee, Wash., on Tuesday. Feb. 25. 

“Two people were inside the theater at the time, but fortunately, no injuries were reported,” the union said.

An investigation into the cause of the collapse remains underway.

“Talk about an interactive movie experience … just not the kind you want!” the group said.

At the time, the two people were watching the Marvel movie when the debris fell, NBC affiliate KING reported.

“They heard some pops and cracking and the gentleman stood up and took a peek,” Battalion Chief Cam Phillips of the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department told KING. “[He] walked up toward the screen and as he looked up, he said, ‘Run!’”

Brian Brett, the chief of the fire department, told The New York Times on Thursday, Feb. 28, that the two then “started to move away from what was falling from the ceiling” but a “very large section of framed-in area underneath the roof came loose and dropped into about the first three rows of seats in the old historic theater.”

Phillips told KING that the other patron wasn’t able to react quickly enough and got covered in debris in her seat, which was one row behind where the ceiling fell.

As a result of the incident, Sun Basin Theatres, which operates the Liberty Cinema, announced in a Wednesday, Feb. 26, Facebook post that the theater would be temporarily closed until further notice. 

Then, in another announcement posted later that day, Sun Basin Theatres said that the Liberty Cinema will open only on Friday, Feb. 28, at 19 S. Mission St. for the screening of Rainier: A Beer Odyssey. They also acknowledged that its showtimes and titles are subject to change due to the reduced screen count and thanked moviegoers for their support and understanding. 

“This location is very near and dear to our hearts and it’s been a pleasure serving popcorn to you all from this location over the decades,” the company said. “Maintaining patron and staff safety is our utmost priority at this point, and we want to make sure everyone is as safe as possible upon their return to this classic destination.”

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“That’s why we’re taking the time to properly sort this out so we can officially bring your favorite movies and special events back to YOU the public in the absolute best and safest way possible,” Sun Basin Theatres continued.

Phillips, who said the Liberty Cinema was built in 1919 and last remodeled in the 1970s, noted to KING that it was lucky the two moviegoers were not seriously hurt. 

“We are really fortunate that this didn’t happen on a Friday night or a Saturday night when the theater was full,” said Phillips. “This was a best case scenario on a bad situation.”

PEOPLE contacted the Wenatchee Fire Department and Sun Basin Theatres for additional comments on Friday.