SUN PRAIRIE, WI (AP)-- A police lieutenant in a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, says one firefighter has died and another was critically injured in a gas explosion and fire that leveled several buildings in downtown Sun Prairie.
Authorities said at an early Wednesday morning news conference that at least six firefighters were injured along with some civilians when a private contractor struck a natural gas main about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Firefighters arrived to investigate the leak and cordon off the area. The buildings exploded a short time later raining debris in the downtown area. The fire resulting from the explosion ignited some cars parked in the area.
A plume of smoke could be seen for miles around the community of 30,000 near Madison.
