Two people, dog die in Princeton home explosion

PRINCETON, Minn. (KVRR/FOX 9) — A fatal home explosion in Princeton Tuesday morning is under investigation.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Aaron Evenson, with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, says emergency dispatch received multiple 911 calls just before 4 a.m. of a possible explosion.

When deputies arrived, they found a “large debris field” on fire.

A search of the debris turned up two victims, 60-year-old Royce Kreger Jr. and his wife, 61-year-old Katherine Kreger. Both were dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s office says a family dog was also found dead in the debris.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but the sheriff’s office said a propane tank was actively venting when a deputy arrived at the scene and had to shut it off.

Evenson explained 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.

The sheriff’s office said the State Fire Marshal’s Office will be assisting in the investigation.