Update: Campfire explosion victim identified

UPDATE: On Saturday evening, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as Marvin Theisen, 53, of Hibbing. St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office also revealed that a 14-year-old girl from Saginaw was the one who was airlifted to Minneapolis due to the severity of her injuries. The six others who were injured are all also from northern Minnesota.           

ORIGINAL: According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, one person was killed and several others, including a child were injured in a campfire accident around 8:20 p.m. on Friday near Hibbing.

According to the report, area first responders and law enforcement were called to the scene in the 12000 block of Jaranson Road in French Township, 20 miles north of Hibbing on the report of three people being burned when a fire exploded.

Authorities say several families and friends had gathered to celebrate the holiday weekend and were preparing to enjoy an evening campfire when an unknown flammable liquid was used to start the fire. The exploding flames subsequently caused burn and inhalation injuries to 8 individuals ranging in ages from 14 to over 60.

A 53-year-old Hibbing man died as a result of his injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A child sustained serious burns and was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital. Several other burn victims were transported by ambulance or private vehicle to an area hospital.

The accident remains under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

The French Township Fire, EMS and First Responders, Chisholm ambulance, Hibbing ambulance, Life Link III and Guardian Flight assisted.