Residents of retirement home that exploded in March will not return to facility
DENVER (KDVR) — The 87 residents displaced from the Robert Russell Eastern Star Masonic Campus in early March will not return to the facility, as the board of trustees has opted to look into selling the property.
On March 12, an explosion was reported at the assisted living center located near East Harvard Avenue and South Quebec Street. The Denver Fire Department reported that construction work at the campus led to a transformer fire and explosion. While crews were working, they struck a power line by accident, which led to the 'explosion and subsequent transformer fire.'
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Ten people were evaluated for injuries, and eight of those people were transported to a hospital, the fire department later said. Of those, four people were discharged the same day and three were still hospitalized as of March 14, but in good condition. Another six people were not in need of emergency care, but needed assistance from the hospital to find long-term care facilities.
On Tuesday, the campus announced that the Board of Trustees, 'after long and painful consideration and many prayers has reluctantly agreed to explore the potential sale of the campus.'
A transformer was also reportedly on fire before the explosion at the assisted living facility. (Courtesy the Denver Fire Department)
Inside an assisted living facility in Denver where an explosion was reported on March 12. (Courtesy the Denver Fire Department)
Inside an assisted living facility in Denver where an explosion was reported on March 12. (Courtesy the Denver Fire Department)
Crews respond to a reported explosion at an assisted living facility in Denver on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Denver Fire Department)
Emergency responders are at the scene of a reported explosion at an assisted living facility in Denver on March 12, 2025. (KDVR)
Emergency responders are at the scene of a reported explosion at an assisted living facility in Denver on March 12, 2025. (KDVR)
'While we have stated we needed to determine where facts would lead us, it is becoming more apparent that with the preliminary information being developed it is not economically sound judgement to move forward. We are just beginning this process and do not have a timeline at this time, or what the potential sale would look like,' the facility posted to Facebook.
The facility cited decreased occupancy levels since the COVID pandemic, increased operational costs and increasing regulations as additional factors that contributed to their decision.
'The Board of Trustees has stressed our commitment to be totally open and straight forward in this endeavor and we will continue to do so,' the retirement center stated on Facebook. 'I cannot stress enough the toll this extremely hard and reluctant decision has been for the members of this Board.'
The facility was planning a golf tournament for July 18, which has been canceled. The facility said that Pati Sawyer Boex will contact anyone who donated to the tournament to arrange refunds.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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