Bodycam shows officer responding to a fire at Columbia Hills Retirement Center which killed one
By: -----
The explosion that occurred during the fire was caused by oxygen cylinders stored in the apartment of origin. Investigators stress that the use of oxygen in homes has an increased risk of catastrophic fire.
The blaze broke out shortly after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Three St. Helens Police (SHP) officers were the first to arrive on the scene of the fire on Pittsburg Road and immediately began assisting the tenants. They helped pull victims from their windows and began running down the halls and knocking on doors to ensure the tenants were evacuating the building.
CRFR firefighters arrived on scene and began the fire attack and assisting with pulling victims from the building.
One victim was found by firefighters unconscious in the hallway in the building where the fire began. The victim was carried out of the building. St. Helens police officers along with a Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy and Scappoose Police officer provided CPR and resuscitation efforts, but unfortunately the woman died at the scene, according to investigators.