Aumsville woman in hospital with burns after house fire, explosion; police suspect drug activity
Virginia BarredaUpdateThursday 5:40 p.m.
Oregon State Police have identified an Aumsville woman hospitalized with serious burns after a house fire that included multiple explosions Monday night.
Shayla Towery was taken to Legacy-Emanuel Burn Unit in Portland, where she will remain this week with burns over 19 percent of her body, according to a GoFundMe page sent up on her behalf. About $11,000 had been raised by Towery's friends and family.
The daycare worker is suffering from second-degree burns on her face and legs, and third-degree burns on her hands.
Aumsville firefighters found evidence at the scene of an illegal drug lab.
"Firefighters observed equipment and a large quantity of marijuana demonstrating a suspected illegal butane honey oil operation and notified the on-scene Aumsville Police officer," according to a police report obtained by the Statesman Journal.
OSP and the Oregon State Fire Marshal's office are treating the fire as a criminal investigation. Officials have not released any details about possible suspects.
ORIGINAL STORY
An Aumsville resident is in the hospital with burn injuries after a house fire with multiple explosions Monday night .
Around 6 p.m., Aumsville Fire Department was called out to a single-story home after reports about fire and explosion in the garage at 1085 Hazel St.
Firefighters noticed smoke coming from the garage when they arrived. Moments later, they heard several explosions and the garage became engulfed in flames, according to Capt. Tim Fox with Oregon State Police.
Firefighters brought the fire under control within 30 minutes, according to Chief Roy Hari with the fire department.
The victim had burn injuries on his or her face and arms and was taken to a local hospital. Officials have declined to release further details about the victim, not even their gender.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Hari said.
The home is still standing, but there is significant damage to the garage and multiple vehicles.
Units from Turner Fire, Stayton Fire and Sublimity Fire districts assisted Aumsville Fire Department. OSP Arson Unit is assisting with the investigation.
The story will be updated when more information is available.
Virginia Barreda is the Breaking News Reporter at the Statesman Journal. Contact her at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6657. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.
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