Campfire Incident Claims Life of Hibbing Man, Leaves Multiple Injured in French Township
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says a campfire that erupted at a holiday gathering in French Township on Friday evening has left one man dead and several others injured.
Around 8:20 PM, first responders and law enforcement were dispatched to a report of an explosion on the 12000 block of Jaranson Road in French Township, roughly 20 miles north of Hibbing.
The incident occurred as several families and friends were gathering to celebrate the extended labor-day weekend with a campfire. According to initial reports, an unknown flammable liquid was used to start the fire, leading to an explosion that caused serious burn and inhalation injuries. Eight individuals, aged between 14 and over 60, were injured in the explosion.
A child with severe burns was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital for advanced burn treatment. Several other victims, who suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, were transported by ambulance or taken by private vehicle to a local hospital.
According to the press release, a 53-year-old man from Hibbing succumbed to his injuries. He was identified by authorities on Saturday as Marvin Theisen. The incident remains under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office.
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