On January 1, 2014, an explosion and fire in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis killed 3 people. The bodies of two men were recovered from the building a day after the explosion. A third man was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.
Several survivors were hospitalized: 9 at HennepinCountyMedicalCenter, 3 in critical condition; 2 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview, one in serious conditionon. Some of the injuries were fractures sustained when people jumped to safety.
The explosion occurred in an apartment above the Otanga grocery, which is located at 516 Cedar Avenue. The building was completely destroyed.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in addition to the Minneapolis Fire Department and State of Minnesota fire officials, are investigating the explosion and fire. There is still no definitive word regarding the cause of the fire; however, evidence points to a natural gas explosion. CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas in that area.
The federal interest in the explosion and fire stems from its location, next to Dar Al-Hijrah mosque. The investigators are determining whether it was an accidental natural gas explosion or the result of criminal activity.
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman represent clients in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against landlords, gas and propane companies and others. You can contact them for a free consultation about a gas or propane explosion lawsuit.
