In the early morning of Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022, an explosion then fire were reported at Columbia Hills Retirement Center in St. Helens, Oregon. One person died and several others were injured.
Courtesy Columbia River Fire & Rescue
One person died and several were injured after an explosion at a retirement home in St. Helens early Wednesday morning.
Emergency crews were called just after midnight to the Columbia Hills Retirement Center complex, where they found six of the 31 units on fire.
All residents were evacuated as crews battled the fire. Six people were pulled from the building, but one of them did not survive, according to Columbia River Fire & Rescue. The identity of the person who died was not reported in the press release.
Several occupants were taken to Portland-area hospitals. A firefighter and a police officer suffered minor injuries.
Local and state fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion.
The Red Cross and a nearby assisted living community are helping the displaced residents find housing.