Man injured by an ‘explosion’ near Rochester Monday night

A 57-year-old man was flown to an area hospital Monday night after he was injured in an explosion in the Rochester area, according to West Thurston Fire and others familiar with the situation.

The incident occurred about 8:50 p.m. Monday. A Thurston County dispatcher said they received a report about an “errant firework.”

The man was reportedly in a vehicle at the time of the incident.

That vehicle met West Thurston Fire crews near or at a restaurant called Burger Claim south of Grand Mound. From there he was taken to Rochester High School to meet a helicopter.

West Thurston Fire Capt. Lanette Dyer gave the man’s age and said he had suffered head and eye injuries. She did not have information on what caused the explosion.

Chehalis Tribal police also responded to the incident, but an officer referred a reporter to West Thurston Fire for more information.

This story was originally published January 8, 2019 at 3:24 PM.