Oakridge, OR- Two men injured in a fiery motor home explosion last week in Oakridge remain in serious condition at the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, a hospital spokeswoman said Monday.
Terry Crawford, 55, of Oakridge, and Ted Combis, 62, of Klamath Falls, were blown out of Combis motor home, which was parked at the Oakridge Motel, a week ago today.
Investigators have concluded that the blast was caused by a propane tank leak, Oakridge Fire Chief Tim Demers said. Its pretty much a consensus, Demers said.
The men apparently were working on repairs to the motor homes water heater system, Demers said. The water heater had been removed and taken to a shop in Eugene for service. The explosion was probably caused when leaking propane came in contact with a power source, Demers said.
Combis, the owner of a controversial proposed boat manufacturing operation in town, was given permission to park the motor home in the motels parking lot this summer by motel owners Vivian and Robert Erickson. The explosion set fire to the motor home and to another one parked behind it belonging to the Ericksons. Crawford and Combis were hurled about 50 feet.
The blast blew out windows and damaged other buildings in the area, including the Church of the Nazarene to the west. Windows and doors were damaged at the motel.