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.

AP/Wisconsin State Journal/JOHN HART The site of natural gas explosion that killed a firefighter in Sun Prairie, Wis., is seen from the air Wednesday.