For families affected by explosions, this kind of sudden disaster raises serious questions. These events are not only traumatic but often preventable. Victims are left asking how this happened, who is responsible, and what legal rights they may have.
At Pritzker Hageman, our burn injury lawyers have been representing burn survivors and their families for decades. We understand the urgency families feel in the aftermath of a traumatic event and the importance of getting clear answers.
Were You Injured in an Explosion?
What We Know About the Hibbing House Explosion
A devastating house explosion happened just after 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025, in the Iron Range city of Hibbing, Minnesota. The blast originated in a two-story home at 2206 Ninth Avenue East and could be heard throughout the neighborhood.
When first responders arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread to a neighboring residence, which was also destroyed. Crews from six surrounding Iron Range fire departments assisted the Hibbing Fire Department in bringing the fire under control. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours. Two children nearby were reportedly injured by flying glass and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The home where the explosion originated belonged to the Peterson family. According to a Go Fund Me created to help support the family, 52-year-old David and his Wife Missy had lived there for decades and were raising their four-year-old grandson, Jax. Dave Peterson , who was inside at the time of the explosion, was critically injured and initially taken to Fairview Range Hospital before being transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center for specialized burn care.
Neighbors Damien Zegoski and his husband, Ronnie, were inside their home next door when the fire spread and destroyed their residence. Zegoski told the Minnesota Star Tribune he noticed a smell of gas in the air just before the explosion, describing it as “like propane or gasoline.”
The cause of the Hibbing house explosion remains under investigation. Authorities are expected to examine possible sources such as gas leaks, faulty appliances, or recent utility work
Why an Immediate Investigation Matters
In our experience handling gas explosion cases across the country, the cause of a house explosion is often linked to preventable safety failures. These failures may include:
- Leaking natural gas or propane lines
- Defective appliances
- Improper installation or repair work
- Inadequate maintenance
- Failures by utility companies or contractors to follow safety regulations
When someone is seriously injured, it is critical to start an independent investigation as soon as possible. Explosion scenes can change quickly. Evidence may be damaged by fire, removed during cleanup, or exposed to weather. At Pritzker Hageman, our explosion legal team works with experts who specialize in determining the cause and origin of explosions. We act quickly to preserve key evidence and hold the appropriate parties accountable.
Who May Be Legally Responsible After a House Explosion
Multiple parties may be legally responsible for a house explosion, depending on what caused it. These may include:
- A utility company that supplied natural gas or propane
- A contractor or plumber who installed or serviced gas lines or appliances
- A landlord or property owner responsible for upkeep and safety
- A product manufacturer that made a defective appliance or part
- A third-party service company or inspector
An experienced explosion lawyer will identify all potentially liable parties and gather the evidence needed to build a strong case for you or your loved one.
What Compensation Is Available After a House Explosion Injury?
When someone is seriously injured in a house explosion, the physical and emotional toll can be overwhelming for both the burn survivor and their family.
Medical bills can add up quickly, especially when burn injuries require emergency care, surgeries, skin grafts, or long-term rehabilitation. If the injured person is unable to work or care for themselves, the financial impact can last for years.
Families often want to know what kind of compensation may be available through an explosion lawsuit, which may include:
- Current and future medical expenses related to hospitalization, surgeries, burn care, rehabilitation, and therapy
- Pain and suffering, including the long-term impact of burns, scarring, disfigurement, and emotional trauma
- Lost income if the injured person cannot return to work right away or at all
- Loss of earning capacity for permanent or disabling injuries
- Costs of long-term care, in-home support, or home modifications for mobility and safety
- Wrongful death compensation, if a loved one passes away due to their injuries
In gas explosion cases, compensation is often pursued through claims against parties such as gas companies, contractors, landlords, or appliance manufacturers when negligence or a product defect played a role in the blast.
Because of the complexity of explosion investigations and the high cost of care for burn injuries, it is important to work with a law firm that has experience handling these specific types of cases.
Why Families Choose Pritzker Hageman
Pritzker Hageman is one of the few law firms in the country with decades of experience representing explosion injury victims. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for families who have suffered life-changing injuries or losses due to gas leaks, faulty appliances, propane tank failures, and negligent utility work.
We investigate every case independently and work with nationally recognized fire and explosion experts. Our goal is to help families recover the compensation they need and hold the right parties accountable.
You do not have to face this alone. We are here to listen, to help, and to fight for you.
Talk to a Gas Explosion Lawyer Today
If your loved one was injured in the Hibbing house explosion or another gas explosion, contact the legal team at Pritzker Hageman today. We offer free consultations and you never pay anything unless we win your case.
Call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or fill out the form below to talk to a gas explosion lawyer about your case.
We have obtained 100+ separate verdicts and settlements greater than $1 million:
We obtained this settlement for a man who lost his arm and leg in a gas pipeline explosion.
Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury and burn injuries over 60% of his body in an explosion caused by improperly-odorized propane.
Our client suffered burn injuries over 50% of her body when a compressed natural gas line ruptured in a factory, causing an explosion.
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