PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One person died and seven others, including a firefighter and police officer, were injured when a fire ripped through part of a retirement center in St. Helens early Wednesday morning, according to Columbia River Fire & Rescue.
Shortly after 12:30 a.m., fire crews responded to the 3-alarm fire burning at the Columbia Hills Retirement Center on Pittsburg Road. An explosion caused the fire to spread across the complex, according to fire personnel.
Firefighters said one of the six residents they pulled from the fire suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other five residents were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.
Fire officials told KOIN 6 News the injured firefighter and police officer drove themselves to nearby hospitals and are expected to be okay. Both have reportedly been released from the hospital.
Several residents left with their families, while fire officials say Spring Meadows and the Red Cross helped 23 residents get settled in at local hotels.
All residents were reportedly moved off the property as none of the buildings had power or running water.
The fire department shared the above photo showing a section of the center’s roof burned through. Fire officials said six units of the 31 unit complex were heavily damaged by the fire while several others were damaged by smoke.
Crews from multiple agencies helped battle down the fire, which they say was put out about two hours after the initial call.
The investigation is ongoing.
KOIN 6 News reporter Emma Jerome contributed to this article.
