Explosion demolishes part of Washington state motel
Part of a motel in Bremerton, Washington has been destroyed following an explosion purportedly triggered by a gas leak. The blast could be felt for miles, witnesses said.
The hotel in the Seattle suburb was evacuated before the explosion, said Police Chief Steve Strachan.
A gas leak was reported at 7:54 p.m. and all patrons exited by the time of the 8:24 p.m. blast, according to police.
Manager Tonya Hinds said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that a passerby had come into her office to say a gas line was leaking at the back of the building.
“We’re certainly hoping and praying that everybody did get evacuated successfully, but we can’t confirm for sure yet that that occurred”, he said.
Reporter Rachel Anne Seymour of the Kitsap Sun said firefighters were continuing late Tuesday night to let the fire burn off gas until the gas line was shut off.
Bremerton is a town of about 39,000 an hour ferry ride West of Seattle. She said that one guest reported having seen someone jump out a window of the three-story establishment and land on or near the gas line just before the leak.
The force of the explosion blew back firefighters 20 feet, Bremerton police said.