New video shows the devastating force behind the Washington motel explosion

A manager at the Motel 6 in Bremerton, Washington has been credited with saving dozens of lives, after evacuating hotel guests before a huge explosion sparked by a gas leak ripped through their rooms.

Bremerton fire chief Al Duke gave credit to acting hotel manager Tonya Hinds and her quick evacuation of more than 60 guests after smelling a gas leak, with about ten people staying in the area where 16 rooms were destroyed.

CCTV footage shows the blast tearing apart a section of the hotel, an explosion of such force it knocked back some fire fighters by 20 feet, and seriously injured gas company worker Larry Jennings, 59.

Jennings suffered second and third degree burns and remains in critical condition in hospital.

Firefighters responded to the alarm just before 8pm along with gas employees, half an hour before the blast.