From staff reports

LAKE MILLS, Iowa – A lunch-hour explosion at Ron’s LP Gas Service startled the town of Lake Mills Monday, sending one employee to the hospital and destroying a building.

Tuesday, March 06, 2001

LAKE MILLS, Iowa – A lunch-hour explosion at Ron’s LP Gas Service startled the town of Lake Mills Monday, sending one employee to the hospital and destroying a building.

According to Lake Mills Fire Chief Dave Anderson, the blast occurred at 12:55 p.m. in a back room of the service station’s shop area. Two employees were reportedly running to escape an LP gas leak when they were thrown by the force of the explosion.

One of the employees, Mariann Holst, was knocked unconscious, and transported by Lake Mills Ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Mason City. Her injuries appeared to be minor, said Anderson.

Lake Mills firefighters arrived to find a fire, and called for assistance from neighboring departments in Forest City, Joice and Emmons. Authorities said they were worried about the blaze spreading to nearby LP storage tanks. Anderson said he called for 10,000 gallons of water, concerned about the many propane tanks at the site of the fire.

The building, located a half mile south of Lake Mills on County Road 74, is a total loss along with a propane delivery truck. Owner Ron Langfald estimates damages at more than $500,000.

The cause of the explosion and fire are under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.