Rosemount propane explosion closes highway, no injuries reported

A propane tank explosion in Rosemount today shut down Highway 3 and kept elementary students at their school longer than usual Thursday.

Rosemount Police Chief Mitch Scott said the propane tank blew up at a construction site near the Rosemount middle and elementary school buildings around 3:30 p.m.

A police officer initially saw a construction truck with two propane tanks engulfed in flames. Shortly after, one of the tanks exploded, Scott said.

No one was injured in the incident, he added, and there was no other structural damage.

Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan schools superintendent clerk Pam Orr said the middle school had already dismissed students for the day when the explosion happened.

The elementary school's students were held "in place until it was deemed safe," Orr said, "and then the buses were cleared to go in and pick them up and take them home."

Highway 3 was closed at 143rd Street for about 30 minutes after the explosion to allow fire trucks to move through the area, Scott said.