(Lake Park)– Two men were injured late this (Thursday) morning when a generator at Lake Park Municipal Utilities exploded.
Mel Zevenbergen of the Lake Park Fire Department tells KUOO news they were called to the scene around 11:45 this morning. He says most of the fire was already out when they arrived…but the building was full of smoke.
The two men who were attempting to start the generator, Troy Fuoss and Jim Wiese…both of Lake Park…were injured in the blast. They were transported by ambulance to Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. Wiese was treated and released; Fuoss was transferred to Avera/McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls with burns to his face and arms. His condition wasn’t available late this (Thurs.) afternoon.
Two other employees in the building at the time were treated at the scene for possible smoke inhalation. They were not taken to the hospital.
Zevenbergen says crews were starting the generator when the town’s power went out as the result of the ice storm.
The Lake Park Fire Department was at the scene for about 15 minutes.
It’s not known what ignited the gas.
Zevenbergen says most of the damage was contained to the generator itself.
