RICHFIELD, Minn. — The remains of a home in Richfield will be torn down following an explosion that jolted the neighborhood Monday morning.
Richfield Fire Chief Mike Dobesh said crews were dispatched to the 6400 block of Oliver Ave. S. around 8:45 a.m. after reports of a house fire caused by a possible explosion. As his crew from a nearby fire station was away getting fuel, units from Edina were the first to arrive. Dobesh said those Edina crews discovered a fire in the basement of the home and signs that an explosion had occurred.
Hennepin County sheriff's deputies were in the area and quickly responded. They freed an occupant of the home trapped outside underneath some rubble and provided medical aid until paramedics arrived to transport the woman to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her condition is unknown.
Images from the scene showed a large picture window blown out of the home, with debris scattered across the front lawn and smoke pouring from the structure. Video also made it appear a side wall of the structure has been flattened.
"I heard all kinds of sirens, and they just kept coming," said neighbor Jim Nelson, who lives about a block away from the blast. Nelson said he heard what sounded like an explosion, jumped on his bike and rode up to the scene.
"While watching this I saw smoke coming up a couple of houses down from behind it, so I rode over there on my bicycle and a shed in back was engulfed in flames," he said.
Nelson said that secondary fire was quickly put down.
The fire chief said the home was a total loss, and it was demolished around 10:30 a.m. Investigators are working to determine the official cause, but Chief Dobesh said the debris field is consistent with a natural gas explosion.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 has a crew on the scene and will have the latest details as they become available.
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