An explosion tore through a Sequim apartment on the 100 block of West Cedar Street Sunday night, seriously injuring a man who was airlifted for medical treatment. The blast, which happened near the city's civic center, has triggered a criminal investigation involving detectives and a bomb squad.
Sequim Police and Clallam County Fire District 3 were dispatched around 8:30 p.m. Sunday after reports of a loud blast in the area, according to the City of Sequim. Sequim Police confirmed they are investigating an explosion inside an apartment, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle, which noted the blast left a man seriously injured. The adult male suffered what officials described as a significant extremity injury and had to be flown out for medical care, according to the Peninsula Daily News.
The damage was contained to the single unit where the explosion occurred, and no other residents in the building were hurt, the same report noted. Emergency personnel did not report any additional injuries or displacements tied to the blast.
Regional Investigators Descend on Cedar Street
Given the severity and unclear cause of the explosion, Sequim Police activated the region's Major Incident Response Team, pulling in detectives from the Clallam County Sheriff's Office, Port Angeles Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, per My Clallam County.
Technicians from the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad also responded to the scene to check the apartment for any additional hazardous or unexploded materials, according to KIRO 7 News.
Blast Site Sits Steps From City Hall
The apartment sits near the Sequim Civic Center, according to the Sequim Gazette.
Sequim Police have confirmed the explosion remains an active criminal investigation, though authorities have said the incident appears isolated with no ongoing threat to the general public, according to FOX 13 Seattle. Investigators have not released details on what specifically caused the detonation, leaving open questions about whether it stemmed from an explosive device, chemical activity, or another source.
Clallam County Fire District 3 responded to Sunday's blast.
For now, the cause of the West Cedar Street explosion remains under investigation, and authorities have not indicated when more details might be released.
