3 injured at home building site explosion in East Bethel

Updated 12:32 p.m.

Three people were injured Monday morning in an explosion at a home under construction in East Bethel, north of the Twin Cities.

Emergency responders were called to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. on the 2800 block of Viking Boulevard, about two miles east of Minnesota Highway 65, near the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area.

“Upon arrival they found what appeared to be an explosion scene at a home that was under construction. Those first deputies and firefighters quickly determined that there were three people inside the home that had partially collapsed and they were trapped inside,” said Lt. Bill Jacobson with the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

The three victims were taken to Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, one by helicopter and two by ambulance. Their conditions were unknown as of late morning, the sheriff’s office said.

Fire investigators and utility crews joined the sheriff’s office personnel on the scene, just blocks from the East Bethel Fire Department.

Sheriff’s officials said the blast response had shifted to an investigation, and crews from Xcel Energy were sweeping the area with gas detectors.

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