Sheriff: Woman airlifted to hospital following Isanti County home explosion
WAYANETT TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A house fire and explosion Monday in Isanti County sent crews rushing to save a woman and her pets.
The call for help reached the Princeton Fire Department at 9:30 a.m. Matthew Peterson says the silence of his neighborhood in Wayanett Township just outside Princeton was interrupted with the sights and sounds of a fire and small explosion.
"I was sitting in my car getting ready to leave and then I heard a loud, just a 'BOW,' and that was about it," Peterson said. "And then all of a sudden I seen a bunch of fire trucks and then helicopters came in."
Princeton Fire Chief Ron Lawrence says a fire first broke out inside the one-level home on Puma Street, followed by the explosion.
"When I arrived, one victim was out at the end of the driveway, alive, alert, doing very well," Lawrence said. "She was transported by the ambulance."
Lawrence says the homeowner had some burns. She was eventually airlifted to a hospital to be treated.
It was a tough fire to fight. Being in a rural area, there are no fire hydrants to supply water to put the flames out.
"Any time we're outside of the hydranted area, we haul our own water, drop tank," he said. "We drop 3,000 gallons at a time. So far today, I think we've gone through 10,000 gallons."
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While crews worked to put out hot spots, others were looking for the family pets who lived inside.
"Two cats were able to get out. We did get one kitty out that's doing OK right now, but we haven't found the fourth cat yet," he said.
The home appears to be a total loss. There is no word yet on what caused the fire and explosion that followed.