Heat sends 5 Mpls. firefighters to hospital

Five Minneapolis firefighters were sent to the hospital following an explosion and fire at a northeast Minneapolis duplex Sunday afternoon.

The firefighters were called to a home on the 2300 block of Fillmore Street after an explosion rocked the building and started a fire. Residents were in the building when the explosion happened, and one required medical attention, but all escaped the fire quickly.

Firefighters searched the building and evacuated nearby homes for fear of a gas leak. Fire commanders called in additional crews because the fire was threatening a nearby home and the hot weather was straining firefighters at the scene.

Deputy Fire Chief Perry Ebner said that five of the firefighters were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for examination and possible treatment for heat exhaustion. He said it isn't clear what caused the fire, although firefighters found the back wall of the building had been blown out when they arrived.

UPDATE: Minneapolis fire officials believe the fire was caused by a leaking natural gas pipe. An injured homeowner is still in the hospital and being treated for burns from the fire.