Updated: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015
BREMERTON, Wash. —
Two people are unaccounted for after a gas explosion at a Bremerton motel on Tuesday evening. A gas company employee was critically injured.
Crews responded to a report of a gas leak at the Motel 6 in the 3400 block of 11th Street at about 8 p.m.
Fire officials told KIRO 7 that motel staff immediately evacuated the building.
Hotel manager Tonya Hinds is being called a hero. Hinds is a former volunteer firefighter and she did what she had to do.
“I’m just in my mode right now to get everybody accommodated and taken care of,” Hinds said.
There was an explosion as a gas crew attempted to stop the leak at about 8:30 p.m.
Fire officials said two employees with Cascade Gas were in the east side of the property when the explosion happened.
Police later confirmed one of the two employees was critically injured. The employee was taken to Harborview Medical Center with second and third-degree burns.
Police said firefighters at the scene were blown back 20 feet during the time of the explosion.
No other injuries were reported.
Investigators are still determining the cause of the gas leak.
Reporter Maria Guerrero will be reporting there live in Bremerton until 7 a.m. on KIRO 7 and until 8 a.m. on the KIRO 7 News Livestream.