Fireman killed in Wisconsin gas explosion who leveled buildings, injured others, officials say



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A firefighter, father of two girls, was killed on Tuesday during a gas explosion in a Wisconsin town, shaving buildings and injuring at least a dozen other people, authorities said. Barr was at the Barr House, a tavern he owned in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, when a private contractor broke through a 4-inch gas line, causing a gas leak that caused the murderous explosion of the tavern and Glass Nickel Pizza restaurant. 19659003] cory barr_facebook “/>

The Sun Prairie Fire Department Captain Cory Barr was killed when the tavern he owned exploded in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

(Facebook)

"The Sun Prairie Fire Department is strong, we will continue to build, we are injured, but we will come back," said Sun Prairie Fire Chief Christopher Garrison

. He worked in the fire department for at least 10 years and also worked as a real estate agent on the side.

Heidi Dunn, who worked for Barr at Keller Williams, told the Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper that she had learned that Barr had died Wednesday morning.

"I e-mailed him, I called him, and I texted him as soon as I saw the news last night," Dunn said. "Obviously, I did not hear anything, so we were all very nervous because of that all night … I did not sleep very well."

She added: "He was incredibly kind and generous, and an absolute family man – his wife and daughters were the most important to him – he was just an incredibly sincere and kind and generous person – we could say by that what he did: he worked as a firefighter, he owned the bar and obviously helped people through real estate – so he was always ready to help people in any way. "

WISCONSIN GAS EXPLOSION LEVELS MAIN STREET BUILDINGS; Barr's wife, Abby Barr, also wrote in a Facebook post to thank officials, family and friends who helped after the blast, reported WISC-TV.

  A large plume of smoke from a massive fire is observed in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Witnesses said that the fire had broken out after a loud fire. boom Tuesday night shook the community. Police blocked downtown streets against traffic and bystanders. (AP Photo / Todd Richmond)

A large plume of smoke from a massive fire is observed in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on Tuesday.

(AP)

"Trying to find the words, and I do not know how I can.The husband, the father of my children, a son, an uncle, a brother, and so many others things were taken from this world too early tonight, "she wrote.

Five other firefighters, a police officer and at least six civilians were injured in the city located less than 15 miles from Madison, according to Sun Prairie Police Lieutenant Kevin Konopacki. One of the firefighters was seriously injured and was hospitalized on Wednesday, said Konopacki.

Firefighters and police evacuated people within five blocks shortly after the explosion, saving lives

  Downtown Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. An explosion rocked downtown Sun Prairie, a suburb of Madison, after a contractor hit a natural gas plant on Monday, sending an unknown number of people to hospitals, according to authorities. . (Amber Arnold / Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

The blast shook downtown Sun Prairie, a suburb of Madison, after a contractor hit a main gas line on Tuesday.

(AP)

60-year-old Steve Owen, owner of Sun City Cyclery and Skates in downtown Sun Prairie, said he saw firefighters and police officers on the street and that the explosion was taking place. Is produced. He said that the building in front of his store "literally raised."

"People were jostling each other," said Owen, who lives above his shop.

WE Energies did not provide the name of the contractor.

Fox News' Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Katherine Lam is a breakthrough digital news producer for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @bykatherinelam

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