Deadly Explosion and Fire in Southwestern Minnesota
Westbrook, MN (MinnesotaNow) - Authorities in southwestern Minnesota have identified the victim of a deadly weekend structure fire.
The Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office says dispatchers received a 911 call around 3 p.m. on Saturday reporting a fire at a residence near Westbrook, a town of about 750 people located roughly 30 miles southeast of Marshall. The 911 caller indicated she was in the house and that her son and father were in the garage when they heard an explosion in the shop on their property.
The Building Was Engulfed When Firefighters Arrived
According to a news release, the adult male ran into the shop and did not come back out.
The Sheriff’s Office says the shop was fully engulfed in flames when first responders arrived. The news release says firefighters were unable to enter the building, and calls went out for assistance from surrounding fire departments.
Victim Identified
The victim was later located inside the shop and was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as 36-year-old Lance Richard Larson.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Personnel from Westbrook Fire and Ambulance, Storden Fire and First Responders, the Fulda Fire Department, the Dovray Fire Department, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources assisted the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office in responding to the incident.
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