When an explosion erupted across his alleyway, Mike Cook ran to help bystanders and check the area for hurt children. Cook and others helped evacuate homes threatened by searing-hot flames that had quickly spread to a second house.
When he returned to his backyard, Cook found a badly burned Matt McCrann, who had dragged himself from the alleyway and curled up on Cook's patio. As the two waited for help, McCrann, skin blistered and in excruciating pain, gasped out an apology.
"His last words to me were, 'I'm so sorry. I made a mistake,'" Cook said Thursday during an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Portland Fire spokesman Lt. Damon Simmons said late Wednesday that the North Portland explosion and fire, which killed two people, was caused Monday by the homeowner attempting to make butane hash oil. McCrann, 42, the homeowner, was killed along with Richard Cisler, 68, the Oregon State Medical Examiner said.