120-Plus Evacuated After Oregon Motel Explosion

NEWBERG, Ore. – A police spokesman says an occupant of a motel room rocked by an explosion in the Willamette Valley town of Newberg, Ore., has told officers he was cooking hashish there just before the blast.

Newberg-Dundee Police Capt. Jeff Kosmicki says the seriously burned 29-year-old man remains at a Portland hospital. Kosmicki said late Thursday afternoon that no charges had been filed in the 3 a.m. blast that forced the evacuation of 123 guests from the Best Western Newberg Inn.

The officer said earlier that police had ruled out a meth lab or a gas line issue as possible causes.

Kosmicki says a 26-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl who were also staying in the room suffered minor injuries.