Seattle, WA – SEATTLE — One person was seriously burned in an natural gas explosion at a motel in Seattle Monday morning.
The blast happened before 11:30 a.m. at the Klose In Motel at 9309 Aurora Avenue N. in North Seattle, blowing out the front wall of one room and causing severe damage inside.
Seattle Fire officials say the hotel has been evacuated and medics took a man in his 40s to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of critical injuries and burns.
Fire investigators said the cause of the explosion was from natural gas. Damage was estimated at $50,000 for the structure and $5,000 to the contents.
Seattle Fire says 41 people have been displaced by the explosion and the Red Cross is on hand to help with temporary housing.