House Fire in Richfield, MN, Suspected Gas Explosion
RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA - Around 8:45 AM on Monday, April 22, 2024, several emergency personnel were dispatched to a home in the 6400 block of Oliver Avenue South in Richfield, Minnesota, for a reported house explosion. The explosion occurred just across the street from the Richfield Fire Station 2. This call eventually was upgraded to a third-alarm fire with mutual aid from Bloomington Fire Department, Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) Fire Department, Edina Fire Department, Saint Louis Park Fire, and Eagan Fire Department.
Around 9:12 AM, crews on the scene fighting the house fire reported also seeing heavy black smoke coming from a possible shed in the backyard of a residence three houses downwind from the active house fire. It was reportedly suspected this fire was caused by debris from the original home when it exploded. Crews were able to extinguish this fire quickly.
Fire officials report one person was reportedly transported to a local hospital. Their condition is not known at this time. A large number of CenterPoint officials were also at the scene to aid in the investigation into the cause of the fire. While an official cause of the fire still needs to be determined, according to fire officials at the scene, the evidence suggests an explosion from a possible natural gas leak.
This story is still developing. We will provide an update once an official statement has been made.
Written by: Will Wight