1 hospitalized after apparent gas explosion in Richfield, officer says
RICHFIELD, Minn. — A home explosion just south of Minneapolis sent one woman to the hospital Monday morning.
A dispatcher with the Richfield Department of Public Safety said crews were responding to a fire on the 6400 block of Oliver Avenue South.
Fire crews say reports of the explosions came in just before 9 a.m. Hennepin County deputies, who just happened to be in the area, heard the blast and acted quickly.
"They found a woman inside who was screaming for help. They were able to get that woman out," Richfield Fire Department Chief Mike Dobesh said.
First responders say she was the only person inside. She was taken to HCMC for observation and is expected to recover.
"The first responders in our community are amazing," Chief Dobesh said. "The fact that without the proper gear and really much training that they were able to go and help somebody get out this structure, that's pretty incredible — so we thank them."
The impact of the explosion was felt throughout the neighborhood. Neighbors WCCO crews spoke to off camera say they heard a loud boom and their home shake. Another person said he thought his roof was going to cave in.
It's left residents in disbelief.
"It's shocking," Sharon Johnson said. "You don't think anything like this is going to happen in your neighborhood."
Johnson said it makes her worried for her own home.
"You never know when something could happen," she said. "You gotta enjoy each day."
Debris from the original fire flew through the air and started another fire nearby, according to the officer. A nearby traffic camera showed smoke billowing into the sky.
A shed about half a block down the street caught fire. Investigators are looking into both incidents and whether or not they are connected.
A police officer at the scene told WCCO's Beret Leone the fire appeared to start with a gas explosion.
READ MORE: 1 dead, 2 injured in northern Minnesota house fire