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riversedge

(79,647 posts)
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:02 PM Friday

DEVELOPING: Large explosions and massive fire reported near Willow River, Pine County, Minnesota

whow. I have camped in the area--lots of lakes with good fishing.
Willow River is between Mpls and Duluth MN.



DEVELOPING: Large explosions and massive fire reported near Willow River, Pine County, Minnesota


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DEVELOPING: Large explosions and massive fire reported near Willow River, Pine County, Minnesota (Original Post) riversedge Friday OP
From What I Read... ProfessorGAC Friday #1
Yes, huge. Two explosions some distance apart. Anyone know anything about gas line riversedge Friday #3
A little, MarineCombatEngineer Friday #5
I mean... there aren't many people there lol WhiskeyGrinder Friday #6
And? ProfessorGAC Friday #8
Would you prefer they run high-capacity gas lines through heavily populated areas ? eppur_se_muova Friday #12
more riversedge Friday #2
Similar to explosions in Gorman, CA last week that closed down I-5 for hours. dickthegrouch Friday #15
Sabotage, colossal screwup, or a catastrophic failure of a critical component? MarineCombatEngineer Friday #4
What went ForgedCrank Friday #9
I grew up about 10 miles south Arger68 Friday #10
....Gas flow was shut off around 3:10 p.m., bringing the flames under control although smoke lingered. riversedge Friday #7
I hope it isn't a supply line! SheltieLover Friday #11
DH says frost heaves Bettie Friday #13
Message auto-removed Name removed Friday #14

ProfessorGAC

(75,902 posts)
1. From What I Read...
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:06 PM
Friday

...no injuries have been reported.
That seems more luck than great safety engineering.
Those were some huge fireballs.

riversedge

(79,647 posts)
3. Yes, huge. Two explosions some distance apart. Anyone know anything about gas line
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:10 PM
Friday

explosions. Seems odd to have two places explode. But, I know nothing about gas lines.


I wonder who shot the photos??

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,790 posts)
5. A little,
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:13 PM
Friday

if a gas line ruptures in one place, it can cause a tremendous back pressure and rupture a line either further or back of where the original rupture happened.

ProfessorGAC

(75,902 posts)
8. And?
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:28 PM
Friday

Large pipelines always have people doing inspections, leak testing, & secondary flow monitoring (usually ultrasonic).
Save your LOL for a time when you have subject matter knowledge.

eppur_se_muova

(41,077 posts)
12. Would you prefer they run high-capacity gas lines through heavily populated areas ?
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:52 PM
Friday

Think about it.

dickthegrouch

(4,318 posts)
15. Similar to explosions in Gorman, CA last week that closed down I-5 for hours.
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 09:34 PM
Friday

I wouldn't rule out sabotage, even false-flag sabotage at this point. It will almost certainly cause a possibility of more destabilization of MN communities if the weather deteriorates and there's no gas for heating or cooking.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,790 posts)
4. Sabotage, colossal screwup, or a catastrophic failure of a critical component?
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:10 PM
Friday

Inquiring minds want to know.

ForgedCrank

(3,034 posts)
9. What went
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:29 PM
Friday

through my mind was wondering how long will it be before Trump blames this on either Antifa or Somalians, you know he will.
Its just a matter of how long before he says it.

Arger68

(732 posts)
10. I grew up about 10 miles south
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:37 PM
Friday

of Willow River. It's quite rural (and very red), I can't imagine it was sabotage, more likely the ground froze deep enough and ruptured the gas line or something like that. I've never heard of that happening, but I highly doubt it was anything nefarious.

riversedge

(79,647 posts)
7. ....Gas flow was shut off around 3:10 p.m., bringing the flames under control although smoke lingered.
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 07:20 PM
Friday



🔥🗞The Informant
@theinformant_x
·
1h
❗️⚠️🇺🇸 - A Northern Natural Gas pipeline ruptured around 1:43 p.m. CST on January 16, 2026, in a rural area west of Willow River, Pine County, Minnesota (near Fox Lake, close to Hwy 61 and County Road 41).

The rupture caused powerful explosions and two large fires with high flames and thick smoke visible for miles.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries have been reported, and authorities say nothing criminal is suspected—it appears to be an accidental failure.

Gas flow was shut off around 3:10 p.m., bringing the flames under control although smoke lingered.

The public is urged to avoid the area northwest of Willow River. The incident remains under investigation.

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Bettie

(19,325 posts)
13. DH says frost heaves
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 08:31 PM
Friday

if it was very cold in the area are a real possibility. His brother has been involved in that industry for decades and that is the kind of nerd stuff they talk about.

Response to riversedge (Original post)

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