Hibbing man dies in campfire explosion in French Township

31 August 2024

FRENCH TOWNSHIP — A 53-year-old Hibbing man died of injuries sustained in a campfire explosion in French Township on Friday, Aug. 30. Three more individuals were seriously injured.

A St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office news release said several families and friends gathered at the 12000 block of Jaranson Road for a campfire when an unknown flammable liquid was used to start the fire. Eight individuals ranging in age from 14 to over 60 sustained injuries from fire inhalation and burns in the subsequent explosion.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

The French Township Fire, EMS and First Responders, along with the Chisholm and Hibbing ambulance services, responded at 8:20 p.m. to the report of three people sustaining serious burns.

A child was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital for advanced care. Several other burn victims sustained injuries described as being minor to serious, and were transported by ambulance or private vehicle to an area hospital.

The incident remains under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

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