1 Injured Following Explosion In North Minneapolis Service Garage
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – What began with a small gasoline leak in a service bay led to an explosion that destroyed a north Minneapolis service garage and injured one person inside.
Neighbors heard the explosion around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday at Freemont Automotive, which sits at the corner of Freemont and 41st avenues.
Minneapolis Deputy Fire Chief Don Leedham said a mechanic was working on a lifted car when a gas leak was ignited by a spark.
The mechanic escaped with minor burns and was treated at Hennepin County Medical Center.
His business, however, wasn't so lucky.
A large fuel oil storage tank inside the garage ignited. Responding firefighters focused on containing the damage to the garage.
"Our concerns are the exposure buildings, one on the back side and one on the south side, so that was our focus," Leedham said.
Five feet away from the burning shop was the wall to Lynn Heying's house. She works the night shift and was jolted awake by the morning blast.
"I was sound asleep and the house shook, and I went, 'Oh no, what happened now?'" Heying said.
When she looked outside she saw a garage door blown across the sidewalk. She also noticed her mechanic friend walking around dazed and slightly burned -- but alive.
"I grabbed my wallet, phone and coat and boots, and out the door I went," Heying said.
Fire investigators say the cause of the fire is an accidental ignition of gasoline. The remains of the building are scheduled for demolition.
No firefighters were injured knocking down the flames.
