OAKRIDGE, Ore. (AP) — Human remains found in a cabin that exploded in flames early Tuesday morning during a standoff between law enforcement and a wanted man are believed to be those of a suspect who barricaded himself when police arrived Monday night, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that police tried to contact the man at the cabin east of Oakridge about a warrant Monday, to no avail, KATU reported.
Police called the sheriff’s office for help and deputies made contact with the man, who refused to come out of the structure. The cabin was located up a narrow road overgrown with vegetation, the sheriff’s office said.
Shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday, law enforcement reported hearing a small explosion that sounded like it came from inside the structure followed by fire erupting inside, the sheriff’s office said. The fire department was called but was unable to get the truck up the road, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities found a deceased person once they were able to get inside.
According to the sheriff’s office:
Extreme heat and explosions (believed to be from propane tanks) quickly forced first responders to back away from the structure before any fire suppression efforts with fire extinguishers could begin.
When the fire was extinguished and cooled down enough to enter the area, first responders located a deceased person inside the cabin who is believed to be the barricaded man.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the fire and the man’s name will be released once the remains are positively identified, OregonLive.com reported.
