On Wednesday, March 12, an explosion at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus, an assisted living facility in Denver, Colorado, left eight people hospitalized and a total of 87 residents displaced. According to the Denver Fire Department, the explosion was caused by a power line being struck.
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The DFD confirmed that eight individuals were transported to local hospitals. In addition, two others were evaluated on-site and were cleared. The nature and severity of the injuries have not been revealed. In total, 87 people were displaced and transported to "another location." Four hours after first reporting the explosion and subsequent fire, the DFD confirmed that the power line being struck "contributed to an explosion and subsequent transformer fire."
Residents at the assisted living facility were caught off guard as they heard and felt the explosion. "I felt a boom. It rocked my chair," Barbara Hinchey, one of the facility's residents, told 9News. "So I knew when the fire alarm came on that it was real," Hinchey added. However, there was no chaos or screaming, according to her. Instead, residents had to walk "through dense work" as they evacuated the facility.
Residents Displaced, Being Taken Care Of
Luis Cedillo, a Denver Fire Department captain, talked with Denver7 about the residents. He previously had theorized about the explosion being a result of a construction mishap. As previously stated, this was later confirmed by the DFD.
"We know that they needed immediate care and crews were able to quickly work with Denver Health and other EMS agencies and we were able to transport them as quickly as possible," Cedillo told the outlet.
The Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus has since
posted their gratefulness on Facebook for all the support they have received since the explosion."First, the Staff and Board members extend their heartfelt thanks to those who stepped up to help our residents with their time, prayers, and donations of personal care items and supplies," the facility wrote. "Their quick and timely response is greatly appreciated."
The living facility confirmed that it will take approximately four weeks for the "investigation and assessment of the damages" to be concluded. "The staff will continue to work to keep all residents and their designated family contacts updated," the facility added. "All residents are safe and being taken care of."
I wonder if they were out of the parachute envelope? Sad. RIP.
No parachute deployed?