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John Enger

Home explodes near Bemidji, throwing man inside 50 feet

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Posted: 9:42 a. m. | Updated: 8:06 p. m.

A home south of Bemidji exploded Monday night with enough force to level the structure and throw its lone occupant 50 feet out into the yard.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office identified the man Tuesday night as the home's owner, Kenneth W. Swenson.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received reports of a loud explosion sound at 5:35 p.m. Monday. When crews arrived at the remains of a home on Buchanan Avenue, a few miles southwest of Bemidji, Fire Chief Dave Hoefer said they found Swenson lying among the debris.

"Our speculation is, he was most likely in the structure, then the explosion occurred," Hoefer said.

Swenson was awake and speaking when an ambulance arrived to bring him to Sanford Hospital. His condition has not been reported since.

There's not much left of the home, Hoefer said. It was a single family one-story structure.

It's not clear yet what caused the blast. An investigation is still in progress. Whatever the cause, all indications suggest the home exploded with a great deal of force.

People called in to report the explosion from Hubbard County, Grant Valley Township and the City of Bemidji, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. Several callers, miles from the blast, said their windows rattled and picture frames fell from their walls.

Hoefer said reports of an explosion in that area could have indicated something much worse. Several pipelines, he said, run through that area, and an airport is nearby. When firefighters and law enforcement fanned out, looking for the source of the explosion, they didn't know at first what they might find.

Hoefer said his crews suppressed a small fire in what remained of the house. He does not suspect any malicious intent.