More than 500 customers without natural gas after explosion near Willow River

WILLOW RIVER — Pine County dispatchers received several reports of explosions around 1:45 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Several fire departments, EMS and law enforcement officers responded to the incident, which involved a larger gas line in a rural area west of Willow River, according to a press release from the Pine County Sheriff’s Office. “Nothing criminal is suspected at this time,” the release states.

Multiple addresses in proximity to the explosion were asked to evacuate. There were no injuries reported as of 3:30 p.m.

Northern Natural Gas, which owns a pipeline system spanning 11 states including Minnesota, responded to the scene.

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