Bleachers were salvaged, not inspected before partial collapse at Kendall County Fair rodeo

BOERNE, Texas – The bleachers at the Kendall County Fairgrounds rodeo arena were not inspected before a partial collapse that resulted in 12 injuries on Aug. 31, the city of Boerne said Thursday.

City records show no building permits have been issued at the fairgrounds since January 2023.

The city said the steps were an old structure that had been salvaged.

On the night of the collapse, the city estimated that more than 100 people were in the newly constructed area.

According to the city, welding work was being done on the stands the day before the rodeo.

A fence has been placed around the damaged bleachers. The city said an inspection will be done within the next week and a structural report will be done within the next three weeks.

No violations were detected at the fairgrounds one day before the partial collapse

Records obtained by KSAT Investigates show three inspectors checked out the Kendall County Fairgrounds on Aug. 30 for a general inspection ahead of the Labor Day weekend fair.

The general inspection included the following, according to the city:

• Carnival rides

• Food trucks

• Fire extinguishers

• Electrical diagrams

• Exhibition hall

• Departures

After conducting a walk-through, the report said inspectors found no violations at the county fairgrounds.

According to the city, the tour did not include an inspection of any structures.

Hours after Saturday’s collapse, city officials said the Boerne Fire Marshal’s Office and the city’s Permits and Code Enforcement Office inspected the grounds around the rodeo stadium Sunday morning.

Photographs taken by inspectors show where metal bent and snapped beneath the seats.

KSAT requested reports from Sunday’s inspection. The city said no reports were available from Sunday morning’s inspection.

What we know

The stands collapsed around 9:15 p.m. Saturday at the Kendall County Fair Grounds rodeo arena.

The Boerne Fire Department said 12 people were injured when seats at the rodeo arena partially collapsed. Eight people, ranging in age from seven to 79, were taken to the hospital.

As of Thursday, Kendall County EMS said a 79-year-old woman is still hospitalized.

As a result of the collapse, Saturday night’s festivities at the Kendall County Fairgrounds have been postponed.

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