House explodes in south Minneapolis

House fire in Minneapolis
Firefighters work to put out a fire after a house explosion in the 5600 block of 32nd Avenue in South Minneapolis on Saturday. Two houses on each side of the one that exploded also had fire damage.
MPR Photo/Chris Kelleher

A young girl is expected to be released from intensive care Sunday morning after a massive explosion leveled the south Minneapolis home she shared with her parents and two sisters.

Officials are still investigating the explosion at the Schuller family home in the 5600 block of South 32nd Ave., which they believe was caused by a natural gas leak.

The explosion destroyed the house, which was still smoldering late into the day Saturday.

Firefighters were able to save two adjacent homes, which were also burned in the fire.

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After the explosion, the Schuller family -- three children and their parents -- were rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis.

At the hospital Saturday night, 15-year old Emma Schuller said the house smelled like gas right before the accident happened.

"On Friday night when I went over there I was like, 'Dad, it smells like gas, did you leave the oven on or something?' And he said 'no, but I can smell it too.'"

Schuller seemed stunned the accident wasn't worse. She says the gas smell was so strong.

"And then it got worse. Before it even happened we had to cover our noses just sitting in the house because it was so strong."

The explosion was triggered when Emma's father, Dave Schuller, flipped a light switch in the basement.

Dave Schuller suffered burns on his arms, neck and head.

10-year old Olivia Schuller suffered the most severe injuries, with a bruised and bleeding liver.

A neighbor who lives across the street helped rescue Olivia from the burning house, pulling the girl from the rubble after kicking through a burning wall.

Fire officials are still investigating the exact cause of the explosion.

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Editor's note: Because of a reporting error, the age of the injured girl was incorrect in a previous version of this story.