8 Hospitalized and Nearly 90 Displaced After Explosion at Denver Assisted Living Facility

Mar. 15, 2025

The Denver Fire Department at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Photo:Denver Fire Department

Denver Fire Department

Eight people have been hospitalized and at least 87 residents have been displaced following an explosion at an assisted living facility in Denver.In a post onXon Wednesday, March 12, the Denver Fire Department said that a power line was “accidentally struck” during construction work at the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus which “contributed to an explosion and subsequent transformer fire.“Eight people were taken to the hospital for evaluation and two others were cleared after being assessed at the scene. “Injuries are unknown,” the fire dept. added in follow-upXpost. They confirmed in a separateXpost that “87 people have been displaced. Residents will be transported to another location and will not be allowed to go back inside."“I felt a boom. It rocked my chair,” Barbara Hinchey, who has been at the assisted living facility for two years, told local station9News. “So I knew when the fire alarm came on that it was real.”The scene outside the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Denver Fire Department“There was no chaos, no screaming. I had to walk through dense smoke,” Hinchey continued, per the outlet.Hinchey added that she wasn’t “scared” as the residents were evacuated from the building, but she was concerned that others may have been injured in the blast.The Denver Fire Department said the building remains unsafe due to lingering smoke and that the building structure needs to be evaluated, per9News.The aftermath of the incident at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Denver Fire DepartmentLuis Cedillo, a captain with the Denver Fire Department, toldDenver7that there was a “high probability” the explosion was connected to the construction that was taking place around the time, but said arson investigators would make the final decision.Speaking of the residents, Cedillo added, “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.”The fire dept. also said Excel Energy had been notified about the incident in a post onX.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Firefighters at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Denver Fire DepartmentEastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus shared onFacebookthat they had received “overwhelming support” following the explosion and in a follow-up post thanked the community for donating personal hygiene items for those affected.“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,” a spokesperson on behalf of the retirement home wrote on Facebook.“Their quick and timely response is greatly appreciated,” the post continued. “The initial estimate is that it could take up to four weeks before the investigation and assessment of the damages are complete."“The staff will continue to work to keep all residents and their designated family contacts updated. All residents are safe and being taken care of,” they concluded.

Eight people have been hospitalized and at least 87 residents have been displaced following an explosion at an assisted living facility in Denver.

In a post onXon Wednesday, March 12, the Denver Fire Department said that a power line was “accidentally struck” during construction work at the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus which “contributed to an explosion and subsequent transformer fire.”

Eight people were taken to the hospital for evaluation and two others were cleared after being assessed at the scene. “Injuries are unknown,” the fire dept. added in follow-upXpost. They confirmed in a separateXpost that “87 people have been displaced. Residents will be transported to another location and will not be allowed to go back inside.”

“I felt a boom. It rocked my chair,” Barbara Hinchey, who has been at the assisted living facility for two years, told local station9News. “So I knew when the fire alarm came on that it was real.”

The scene outside the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Denver Fire Department

“There was no chaos, no screaming. I had to walk through dense smoke,” Hinchey continued, per the outlet.

Hinchey added that she wasn’t “scared” as the residents were evacuated from the building, but she was concerned that others may have been injured in the blast.

The Denver Fire Department said the building remains unsafe due to lingering smoke and that the building structure needs to be evaluated, per9News.

The aftermath of the incident at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Denver Fire Department

Luis Cedillo, a captain with the Denver Fire Department, toldDenver7that there was a “high probability” the explosion was connected to the construction that was taking place around the time, but said arson investigators would make the final decision.

Speaking of the residents, Cedillo added, “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.”

The fire dept. also said Excel Energy had been notified about the incident in a post onX.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Firefighters at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.Denver Fire Department

Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus shared onFacebookthat they had received “overwhelming support” following the explosion and in a follow-up post thanked the community for donating personal hygiene items for those affected.

“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,” a spokesperson on behalf of the retirement home wrote on Facebook.

“Their quick and timely response is greatly appreciated,” the post continued. “The initial estimate is that it could take up to four weeks before the investigation and assessment of the damages are complete.”

“The staff will continue to work to keep all residents and their designated family contacts updated. All residents are safe and being taken care of,” they concluded.

source: people.com