EAST BETHEL, Minn. — Emergency crews are on the scene of a reported home explosion in East Bethel Monday that left three people injured.
The Anoka County Sheriff's Office says dispatchers began receiving multiple calls reporting the incident, which occurred on the 2800 block of Viking Blvd. NE around 8:25 a.m. Responding deputies and emergency personnel found the blast had occurred at a home under construction and discovered that three people were trapped in the structure.
Rescue operations led to three adult males being extricated from the wreckage. All were transported to HCMC, one by helicopter and the others by ground ambulance. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office identified them as 35-year-old Keith Hyovalti of Oak Grove, 47-year-old William Swanson of Zimmerman, and 47-year-old James Wells of Coon Rapids. All three remained at HCMC Tuesday; Hyovalti and Swanson are reported in satisfactory condition, while Wells is listed as serious.
KARE 11's Charmaine Nero spoke with the owner of Stone Ridge Masonry, an onsite contractor who said two of the three victims were employed by 3 Way Electric of Anoka. He wasn't sure who the third man was working for.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated by the East Bethel Fire Department, State Fire Marshall’s Office, Anoka County Fire Investigation Team and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.
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