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218-730-4400 •www.duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer at 218-730-5309
SUBJECT: Explosion and fire on corner of W Superior Street and Carlton Street
BY: Kelli Latuska, Public Information Officer
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Explosion/Fire
CASE NO.: 26011304
INCIDENT DATE: 9/14/2026
INCIDENT TIME: 1328
INCIDENT LOCATION: W Superior Street & Carlton Street
Explosion and fire on corner of W Superior Street and Carlton Street
[DULUTH, MN] At 1:29 PM, Duluth Fire Department was dispatched to a call of an explosion at a fuel transfer facility located on the corner of W Superior Street and Carlton Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. A mostly-empty 17,000-gallon tank on the facility was in the process of being emptied when an explosion and subsequent fire occurred. Two workers were on site doing final fuel removal at the time of the explosion. One worker was injured and transported to an area hospital by Mayo Clinic Ambulance.
Firefighters from Lincoln Park, Downtown, Spirit Valley, and UMD responded to the incident. Lincoln Park Station firefighters were concluding a call nearby at the time of the explosion when they heard the explosion and saw the smoke. They called in to dispatch to initiate the response of additional rigs and responded immediately to the scene.
Duluth Fire Department and Duluth Police Department searched the area and found no other people were affected. Duluth Police blocked off traffic to the area, and firefighters used water and foam to cool two adjacent tanks that were in close proximity to the tank on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished, negating any need for significant evacuations of the area. No firefighters were injured in the incident. The incident remains under investigation by the Duluth Fire Marshal's office.
Duluth Fire thanks their partners at Duluth Police Department, Saint Louis County deputies and dispatchers, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance for their assistance in this incident.
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