Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A house fire followed by an explosion damaged several structures in Bemidji on Thursday afternoon. Officials said no injuries were reported.
First responders were called to the area between the 15th and 16th block of Bixby Avenue at about 2:30 p.m. Reports from the scene said a house and garage were on fire when crews arrived. Nearby homes were evacuated as firefighters worked to control the flames.
What Happened
Early reports said no one was home when the fire started. That likely helped prevent injuries. The blast and fire still caused major damage in the area. Several nearby structures were affected.
The full cause of the fire was not immediately released. Officials had not announced what triggered the explosion as of Thursday evening. This remains a developing story.
Neighbors Describe Loud Blast
People nearby said the explosion was powerful. Some said it sounded like a bomb. Others said the blast could be felt blocks away.
One neighbor, Rob Kittleson, said the boom shook his garage. Another resident, Taneshia Drouillard, said the blast pushed her hair back. Angela Haasch said the fire spread very fast once the garage was burning.
Those witness accounts show how sudden the event was. Even so, the early word from the scene was encouraging. No injuries were reported, and no one appeared to be inside the home when the fire broke out.
What Comes Next
Fire investigators are expected to keep working the scene. More details may come from local fire officials as the review continues. For updates, readers can follow coverage from Lakeland News, the Bemidji Fire Department, and Beltrami County Emergency Management.
TRF News will update this story when more facts are confirmed.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
