A propane tank explosion in Minnesota injures a father and five children

The father and his five children did not smell the mercaptan, the additive that gives propane its “gas” odor, when they entered the storage container where the propane tank explosion occurred.

A Minnesota father and his five children are in critical condition after a cigarette lighter ignited a leaking propane tank that exploded in a storage container, fire officials said.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal (SFM) determined that the 100-pound propane cylinder, which was believed to be empty, contained enough residual gas to fill the storage container to “dangerous levels,” according to an investigator. press release issued by the state agency.

The father and his children went into the storage container in St. Paul on Nov. 4 to grab some toys, the SFM said. The children, who entered first because the father was unaware of the impending danger, did not recognize the distinct odor of mercaptan, according to the state agency.

Mercaptan is the additive that gives propane its “gas” odor. Unbeknownst to the children and the father, the spark from a cigarette lighter caused the explosion, the SFM said.

Although the father and children remain in critical condition at a Minneapolis hospital, they are stable, according to the news release.

“This family faces a long road to recovery, but they are bravely sharing their story so that no one else experiences such a devastating accident,” State Fire Marshal Dan Krier said in the news release. “We hope this family’s tragedy reminds us to take precautions when storing and handling propane.”

‘Praising God’: Online fundraisers have started for the family’s recovery

The family of five children created one GoFundMe And Caring bridge to raise money to pay for their medical bills and surgeries. They identified the children as five brothers.

The GoFundMe, organized by Kyra Frank, who identifies herself as the boys’ sibling, has a donation goal of $50,000. According to the GoFundMe page, more than $95,000 was raised on Tuesday.

“As many may have heard, my five little brothers were involved in an explosion. All five are in critical condition and have been transported to Hennepin MN for further care,” Kyra Frank wrote on the GoFundMe page. “All prayers are needed and appreciated. My mother is a single working parent and is now taking time off to be with her boys. She could use all the help.”

The most recent update on the GoFundMe page says the boys are stable and their vitals “look good,” but their burns range from 5% to 55%.

“The surgeon informed us that they will all require surgery at some point during this process,” said Kyra Frank. “The stays will be long, the medical bills will be high and mom won’t be able to work.”

JaCee Frank, who identified herself on CaringBridge’s donation page as the boys’ mother, continues to provide updates on the children, including on Monday when she announced that one of them has pneumonia.

“I praise God for the miracle that all my children are! That I still have them. Despite the obstacles, I felt hopeful today,” JaCee Frank wrote on the page. “Doctors are all optimistic too. Please continue to pray for these boys. They have an uphill battle ahead of them. Thank you so much!!”

What are some propane safety tips?

The SFM recommends the following tips to prevent propane incidents:

Store propane tanks outside.
Never assume that a tank is empty as even a small amount of residual gas in a confined space can create a potentially explosive atmosphere.
Equip homes, RVs, fishing lodges, and other areas with propane heating units with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and explosive gas detectors, available from several retailers.

Some people may not be able to smell the odorant used in propane, making these detectors a “critical line of defense, especially for children who may not understand the meaning of the odor,” according to the SFM.

If a mercaptan odor is present or a detector sounds, people should immediately evacuate the area and call 911, the state agency said. Do not switch appliances or lights on or off during the evacuation, as even a small spark can ignite the gas, the SFM said.

Jonathan Limehouse covers the latest and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected].