Man killed in shop explosion on Kokanee Bend

One man is dead and another  injured after a shop exploded and burned on Kokanee Bend in Columbia Falls Tuesday night.

Steve Hanson was killed in the blaze at the shop at his home and his best friend, Paul Mason, a neighbor was severely injured, said Tyler Hanson, who is Steve Hanson’s son.

A neighbor was able to pull Mason out of the fire, people on the scene said Tuesday night.

Tyler Hanson said Mason was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles.

Steve Hanson is co-owner and manager of Hanson Trucking in Columbia Falls. 

Kokanee Bend is a neighborhood south of the City of Columbia Falls near the Flathead River. The sound of the explosion could be heard in town.

Bad Rock, Columbia Falls and Hungry Horse Fire Departments responded to the blaze, which happened about 6:03 p.m., said Bad Rock Fire Chief Kirk Katzenmeyer.

The explosion sent debris about 75 yards from the garage and broke out windows into the adjacent house, said Columbia Falls Fire Chief Karl Weeks, who is also fire investigator. While there was an explosion, they aren't sure what or how it was caused. No foul play is suspected, he added. Fire investigators examined the scene Wednesday morning, along with the Flathead County Sheriff's Department.

Katzenmeyer said firefighters were on the scene for hours and finally left the hall about 2 a.m.

Tyler Hanson said his father was a mechanic and enjoyed restoring vehicles, particularly older model Ford pickups. There were several in the driveway.

Hanson Trucking is a major business in Columbia Falls. It was founded by Skip Hanson, Steve’s father, in 1991 and has about 55 employees, hauling chips and wood material back from mills in Canada to the Weyerhaeuser MDF plant in Columbia Falls, according to the company website.

Editor's note: This story corrects the hospital where Mason was taken for treatment.