St. Louis County campfire explosion kills 1, injures 7 at holiday gathering

Officials issue warning after deadly campfire explosion

A man is dead, and seven other people are injured, including a child who was airlifted to the Twin Cities, after a flammable liquid was used to start a fire at a holiday gathering.

FRENCH TOWNSHIP, Minn. (FOX 9) - A man is dead, and seven other people are injured, including a child who was airlifted to the Twin Cities, after a flammable liquid was used to start a fire at a holiday gathering.

What we know

Law enforcement officials say they first got the report of three people suffering from serious burns after a fire exploded Friday night.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office reports that its deputies responded to an address in the 12000 block of Jaranson Road in French Township, about 20 miles north of Hibbing, around 8:20 p.m.

Authorities then learned several families and friends were celebrating the holiday weekend when "an unknown flammable liquid was used to start the fire" according to the sheriff's office.

The exploding flames then fatally injured a man and caused "burn and inhalation injuries" to seven other people between the ages of 14 and older than 60.

The man who was killed was identified by authorities as 53-year-old Marvin Theisen of Hibbing.

A 14-year-old girl with "serious burns" was then airlifted to a hospital in the Twin Cities for specialized care, according to the sheriff's office.

The other burn victims, whose injuries are described as ranging from minor to serious, were taken to a local hospital via ambulance and private vehicle.

Authorities say they are still investigating the incident.