Fish house explosion injures 4 on Upper Red Lake

Two men and two women were flown by helicopter to regional medical facilities with burn-related injuries.

January 4, 2022 at 11:35PM

An ice-fishing house blew up over the weekend on Upper Red Lake, injuring four people, authorities said.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received a call about 12:30 p.m. on Saturdayabout an explosion in Waskish Township, on the northeast end of the lake, more than 2 miles from shore.

According to Sheriff Ernie Beitel, four people were in the fish house, using a propane heater, when they heard a hissing noise. After they turned off the valve on the tank, a fireball filled the ice house.

The ice house, a wheeled structure with a rigid frame, was heavily damaged in the explosion. Two men and two women were flown by helicopter to regional medical facilities with burn-related injuries. Their conditions have not been released.

about the writer

about the writer

John Reinan

Reporter

John Reinan is a news reporter covering Greater Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. For the Star Tribune, he's also covered the western Twin Cities suburbs, as well as marketing, advertising and consumer news. He's been a reporter for more than 20 years and also did a stint at a marketing agency.

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