Fire crews in Seattle have responded to an explosion at a downtown apartment building.
The complex was evacuated after 911 calls inside the building around 9:30 a.m. Pacific time indicated the explosion came from the basement, Seattle Fire reported.
100 block of 1st Ave N: paramedics transported the patient to a hospital in serious condition. We have established a 1-block perimeter around the building where only fire and law enforcement personnel are allowed as a safety precaution.
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) April 19, 2023
A Seattle TV station reported the explosion was caused by a man handling fireworks inside the building.
KOMO-TV quoted Seattle Police Department detective Judinna Gulpan as saying the man handling the fireworks suffered a “non-life-threatening injury” to his hand when one of them went off.
There was no fire at the scene, Seattle Fire said.
A one-block perimeter was established around the building.
BREAKING: Seattle Police confirm they are working to diffuse a ‘second device’ inside a downtown Seattle building; everyone nearby asked to stay indoorspic.twitter.com/W0gvfuQis5
— Intel Point Alert (@IntelPointAlert) April 19, 2023
One person was taken to the hospital, officials said.
