A powerful gust of wind brought down the "house" on members of the band 38 Special Saturday night during a performance at Echo Basin Guest and Dude Ranch in Mancos.

The event, which showcased the two well-known rock groups Kansas and 38 Special, was part of Echo Basin’s Rockin’ the Rockies Summer Concert Series, which has featured bands such as Alabama and Styx in the past.

Members of 38 Special were into their third song when a gust of wind — one witness called it a "ground burst" — swooped through the audience, caught the band’s banner hanging at the back of the stage and pulled the metal-framed canopy and stage lighting to the ground, scattering band members along the way.

Susan Morris, a Mancos resident who attended the show, said that the wind came through at ground level.

"Music stands fell over and I said, ‘It looks like (the canopy) is swaying — it is swaying,’" said Morris.

Kathi Bjorkman, who owns Echo Basin Guest Ranch with her husband, Dan, said Sunday morning she was thankful there were few injuries resulting from the collapse.

No members of the band were injured, but a manager with 38 Special got a cut on the head and a member of the sound crew had a broken ankle, Bjorkman said.

"38 Special was very, very shaken and very, very thankful that they are all fine and together," Bjorkman said.

Lt. Detective Kalvin Boggs, a spokesperson for the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, said that a number of other injuries, including a broken leg and several twisted ankles, occurred after the canopy collapsed as the crowd hurried to leave the concert area.

"It was dark and muddy from the rain and people were hurrying to get out of there," Boggs said.

Bjorkman said, "The crowd reacted and there was rain and they were all trying to leave — we don’t know who got hurt."

"There couldn’t have been any better response from police and paramedics," said Bjorkman, adding that the emergency personnel present stepped in immediately to keep order and assist the people on the stage.

Bjorkman said a 38 Special banner stretched between the rear supports of the canopy acted like a sail, exerting pull on the structure when the wind hit it.

"Their banner was tied down and it didn’t have any break-aways on it — it shouldn’t have been there. But the weather was fine so nobody was really concerned about it," Bjorkman said. The wind just came like a burst, pulling the canopy up and over the stage, she said.

If 38 Special’s bus had not been parked behind the stage, receiving much of the force of the canopy’s fall and preventing it from coming all the way down to the concrete surface of the stage, the performers and stage hands would have been in much greater danger.

"If their bus hadn’t been parked where it was — for some reason parallel to the stage — then it would have been a horrible tragedy. They really think that their bus saved their lives," Bjorkman said.

On Sunday morning, the bus remained caged in by the canopy framework and was immobilized until the framework was lifted off the bus with cranes.

Bjorkman said that there was damage to the roof of the bus.

The production company, besides having to replace the canopy and its supporting structure, suffered water damage to electronic equipment that was exposed to the rain that came with the wind.

Boggs said that the sheriff’s office conducted an investigation but determined that no criminal activity caused the lighting and canopy to collapse. Insurance investigators are continuing with the investigation, Boggs said.

Bjorkman had no doubt that everything would be ready for the Labor Day weekend concert, which will feature Chris LeDoux and America.

"We did call Chris LeDoux and America to inform them of exactly what happened because if they did have any reservations about coming we would then cancel that concert — but they have both called and said absolutely not. They are very excited about coming to this area," Bjorkman said.

The toppling of the canopy and its supports was described by witnesses as slow enough that performers and others on the stage had time to duck for cover. Bjorkman said the 38 Special drummer, Gary Moffatt, had some of his drums damaged but he was able to hit the deck and avoid injury.