Blast kills firefighter, guts part of block
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — A natural-gas explosion killed a firefighter and leveled portions of a city block, including a bar the firefighter owned, authorities said Wednesday.
The blast Tuesday evening in downtown Sun Prairie also injured at least a dozen people and left residents of the Madison suburb wondering how they’ll put their downtown back together.
The blast happened after police got a call at 6:30 p.m. that construction work on a downtown street had punctured a WE Energies natural-gas line. Police and firefighters arrived to investigate and were evacuating the area when the gas exploded shortly after 7 p.m. The blast ignited four-story high flames that burned long into the night and belched a smoke plume visible for miles.
Sun Prairie Fire Department Capt. Cory Barr was killed in the blast, said Mahlon Mitchell, president of the state firefighters union. Barr also worked as a real estate agent and owned the Barr House, a tavern destroyed in the explosion.
Five other firefighters, a police officer and at least six civilians were hurt, according to Sun Prairie police Lt. Kevin Konopacki.
Authorities and WE Energies did not release the name of the company doing the construction work.
At least five buildings were damaged, including the Barr House, Glass Nickel Pizza and a steak restaurant, according to a news release on the city’s website.