Cedar Falls Apartment Explosion Injures Man

The state fire marshall's office is being called in to help determine the cause of an explosion that injured a man and damaged a Cedar Falls apartment complex on Saturday (Oct. 10, 2015).

Emergency crews were called to the former Shady Rest Motel at 2008 Center Street just before 1:30 p.m. When they arrived, Cedar Falls Fire Rescue officials discovered a male occupant of an apartment was injured in the blast.

According to Cedar Falls police, the unidentified man was transported to Unity Point-Allen Hospital in Waterloo for treatment of unknown injuries. Officials said the victim was the only occupant of apartment No. 4, where the explosion occurred.

The blast blew out the front and back walls of the unit. Adjacent apartments were also damaged.

Several residents living in other apartments in the building where the blast occurred were evacuated. The American Red Cross was called to the scene to them assistance.

At 3:30 p.m., officials said the motel was being inspected for structural damage to determine if it could be occupied. Just before 6 p.m., police and fire crews were still at the scene and it appeared that some -- if not all -- of the displaced residents had returned to the apartments.