Sun Prairie Explosion: Evacuation Underway, Several Hospitalized [Photos]

UPDATE: 6.41 a.m. EDT - According to reports, one firefighter died of injuries sustained while responding to the explosion. Eleven civilians who sustained minor injuries were discharged from the hospital. A total of 14 people including 6 firefighters were injured in the incident.

UPDATE: 11.06 p.m. EDT - All 12 gas mains were shut down in Sun Prairie following the explosion. According to reports, one of the police officers sustained only minor injuries. There is no information regarding the type of injuries to firefighters.

Original story:

An explosion rocked downtown Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, around 7.15 p.m. local time (8.15 p.m. EDT) Tuesday evening after a contractor struck a natural gas main, prompting emergency evacuations.

The explosion leveled several buildings and two police officers and two firefighters were hospitalized after sustaining injuries. A massive plume of smoke is rising from the area and several firefighters are responding to the blaze. Downtown streets have been blocked by police.

WE Energies spokeswoman Cathy Schulze said the first respondents are working to shut off the flow of gas and make the area safe, adding that a contractor hit a gas main ahead of a possible explosion, local daily My San Antonio reported.

Dane County Sheriff's Office operations manager Paul Logan said some people have been injured but no deaths were reported.

According to Kevin Konopacki of the Sun Prairie Police Department, a gas leak was reported around 6.15 p.m. local time (7.15 p.m. EDT), which was followed by an explosion and firefighters are still trying to put out flames at the Barr House and Glass Nickel in the main street, NBC 15 reported.

Community members said nearby buildings, including nursing homes, are being evacuated and Sun Prairie High School is an evacuation center.

NBC15 Sports Director Mike Jacques said, "I can see the smoke from the near East side of Madison.”

Steve Owen, who owns a shop in the street, said he saw police officers and firefighters on the street and then the explosion happened. He added that the building across his shop “literally lifted up” and the explosion knocked him back in his chair.

"It shook the whole building. I thought someone had hit the building with their vehicle. We seen the smoke immediately,” Jill Thompson, who lives about two blocks from where the blast occurred, said.

About 30,000 people live in the area and it has several businesses including bars and restaurants.