UPDATED: 12:05 p.m. Monday, August 8.
Four guests were killed in a blaze that broke out early Friday morning at Newport’s City Center Motel.
Police responded and evacuated guests immediately. Lieutenant Jason Malloy with the Police Department says the fire spread to the front of the motel, preventing some residents from exiting.
"A guest put a ladder up to the back and was able to get a few of the guests out of the back bedroom window," said Malloy.
At 4 p.m. on Friday, authorities found the bodies of as Tammi Sue Hepner, 51 and Allen Arthur Hepner, 63, from Portland. Four hours later, they found Springfield residents Sandra Sue Shoemaker, 60, and Danny Keith Shoemaker, 64.
The other displaced guests were accounted for and moved to the armory across the street and assisted by Red Cross. Four were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital; one was later taken to a Portland burn center.
A press release from the Newport Police Department says they believe the fire started in room 103, which was on the ground floor of the motel. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Follow Kira Hoffelmeyer on Twitter @kirahoffy
