Two individuals pronounced dead in Princeton house explosion

A house explosion that took place in the 8200 block of 52nd Street in Princeton was felt for miles in the early morning of Tuesday, May 7.

The two individuals, one adult male and one adult female, inside the home at the time of the explosion were later pronounced dead at the scene, alongside their family dog.

According to the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, the individuals were identified as Royce Edward Kreger Jr., 61, and Katherine Ann Kreger, 61.

Mille Lacs County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the scene around 4 a.m. after multiple reports of a large explosion and fire.

When sheriff’s office deputies arrived on scene of the single-family house explosion, deputies found a large debris field actively on fire and the home was completely destroyed.

A neighbor of the couple involved in the incident, Cathy Morrissey, heard the explosion and quickly rushed over to the property to try to help the family.

Upon arriving onto the property, Morrissey found the large debris field still actively on fire with no signs of the couple who lived in the home or their family dog.

As Morrissey waited for first responders to arrive on scene, she captured a video begging for prayers for the family involved as the video panned over the scene.

According to a press release from the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, as multiple local fire departments worked to extinguish the flames, authorities worked to search the area which is when the home owners were discovered.

Mille Lacs County Sheriff Chief Deputy Aaron Evenson said in a press conference people living up to 23 miles away could hear the explosion.

“This is mass destruction. To see bent metal from the frame of this home has been thrown 50 plus yards, twisted. I have not seen something quite to this degree when it comes to explosions,” Evenson said. “This is by far the largest explosion I’ve ever seen.”

House debris, clothes, and twisted pieces of metal were scattered in the trees and stretched out into a field behind the home.

Evenson said that the debris field was “easily 100 yards by 100 yards.”

As of Tuesday evening, there is no word from authorities on what caused the explosion. However, the sheriff’s office stated that a propane tank was actively venting when a deputy arrived at the scene and had to shut it off. Evenson explained that once a propane tank gets hot enough, it actively ventilates by releasing pressure through the safety valve on top, causing it to shoot propane and fire into the air about 30 yards.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is working with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office to attempt to determine the cause of the explosion.

The Princeton Fire and Rescue Department, Baldwin Fire Department, Milaca Fire Department, and North Memorial EMS assisted the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal at the scene.

The Union-Times will update this story once more information becomes available.