ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say an explosion and fire last week at the Columbia Hills Retirement Center in St. Helens, Oregon, that killed one person was a human-caused accident. KATU-TV reports Columbia River Fire & Rescue says the explosion was caused by oxygen tanks stored in the apartment where the fire started. Officials say 74-year-old Linda Newman died in the fire. Her son, Adam King of Kelso, Washington, told KATU his mother was the life of the party, who liked to sing and dance. The fire broke out at about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 5. St. Helens Police officers rescued several residents from the building by pulling them out through windows.
Oregon retirement home fire that killed 1 was human caused
