As reported in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and several other media outlets, a teenager was killed and another was injured when a propane tank exploded Wednesday at Waconia Farm Supply store in Waconia, Minnesota.
All of us at Champion Law send out our deepest condolences. I'm sure the family of these young men is wondering why this happened. Right now, nobody knows. There are, however, a few ways that propane fires typically happen.
Some propane fires are caused by negligent handling of propane. In this case, a routine safety inspection of Waconia Farm Supply on Feb. 17 found two violations related to the handling and storage of compressed gases, according to reports on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration website. One violation was described as having the potential to result in death or serious harm. Waconia Farm Supply was initially fined $600 for the serious violation and $150 for the secondary offense. The case was closed on April 7 after the firm paid a total of $525 and reportedly fixed the problems.
Another possiblity relates to a defective product that lead to the explosion. Many propane explosions result from leaks in the propane tank or distribution system caused by negligent propane gas providers and tank manufacturers. If there are problems with the distribution system or the tank, there may be a product liability claim for the resulting burn injuries.
To get to the bottom of this and help assure fair compensation for these horrific losses, I would recommend the families of these two young men contact an experienced Minnesota burn injury attorney immediately. It is critical that a burn injury lawyer get to work right away to arrange for an investigation before critical evidence is destroyed when the company rebuilds the site.
At Champion Law, we are always willing to answer questions about burn injuries, product liability, or any other kind of personal injury, free of charge. If you have questions, visit our web-site or call us at 651.766.5886.
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