UPDATE: Campfire Explosion Killed 1, Injured 7 Others In French Township
UPDATE: The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the 8 people injured due to a campfire explosion near Side Lake Friday evening.
- 53-year-old Marvin Theisen of Hibbing died due to his injures.
- A 14-year-old female from Saginaw was air flown to Minneapolis for treatment of burn wounds.
The six others injured due to burns or smoke inhalation and treated are:
- 50-year-old, Roxanne Theisen – Hibbing, MN
- 49-year-old, Honey Theisen – Kelliher, MN
- 54-year-old, Melissa Krogseng– Kelliher, MN
- 58-year-old Jenette Peasley – Blackduck, MN
- 28-year-old, Hanna Larson – International Falls, MN
- 59-year-old, Raymond Poxleitner – Kelliher, MN
ORIGINAL POST:
FRENCH TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A celebration for the Labor Day holiday weekend turned tragic Friday evening after a campfire accident killed one and injured a number of other people.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says they got word of the accident around 8:20 p.m. on August 30, 2024. It took place on the 12000 block of Jaranson Road in French Township. That is just southeast of Side Lake, about 20 miles north of Hibbing.
The initial dispatch was for three people who suffered serious burn injuries due to a fire explosion. After first responders and law enforcement arrived, they found eight people, ranging in age from 14 to over 60, suffered burn and inhalation injuries.
Of those injured:
- A 53-year-old Hibbing man died from his injuries.
- A child, who age has not been specified, was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital for care of serious burn injuries.
- Others who suffered burn injuries, described as ranging from minor to serious, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
It has been determined that the accident occurred when several families and friends had gathered for an evening campfire. An unknown flammable liquid was used to start the fire, causing the explosion.
The Sheriff’s Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office continue to investigate the accident. Also assisting at the scene were French Township Fire, EMS and First Responders, Chisholm Ambulance, Hibbing Ambulance, Life Link III, and Guardian Flight.
