BAGLEY, Minnesota (FOX 9) – State officials are urging the public to be cautious after waste gas from a propane-fueled tank explosion at a Bagley storage facility that seriously injured five children and their father.

READ MORE: Storage facility explosion leaves one man and five children injured in northern MN

The injured children, ages six to 14, along with their father, remain in critical but stable condition, authorities say.

What the officials say

The Minnesota The Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Fire Department said the explosion occurred when “a lighter ignited a leaking propane tank that exploded inside a storage container.”

Investigators determined that a 100-pound propane cylinder that was believed to be empty had “enough residual gas to fill the storage container to dangerous levels.”

DPS officials also share the following propane safety tips:

• Propane tanks must be stored outside.
• Never assume a propane tank is empty, as even a small amount of residual gas can create a potentially explosive atmosphere in a confined space.
• Alarms should be installed in any area with propane heating units, including homes, RVs, fish houses, and other areas with propane heating units. The types of alarms available include smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and explosive gas detectors.

State Fire Marshal Dan Krier shared the following statement about the incident:

“This family faces a long road to recovery, but they are bravely sharing their story so that no one else has to face such a devastating accident. We hope this family’s tragedy serves as a reminder to take precautions when storing and handling propane.”

Officials also stress that the area should be evacuated if anyone smells a “mercaptan,” also known as the familiar smell of “gas,” and not to turn on any appliances or lights.

The gas can be ignited by even the smallest spark, officials say.

Explosion background

The explosion occurred around 12:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at a storage facility on 370th Street, north of Bagley. Bagley is a small town about 25 miles west of Bemidji.

It appears that the father, along with his children, went to the storage container to retrieve the toys.

DPS officials say the family didn’t recognize the smell before the lighter triggered the explosion.

A GoFundMe the page identifies the children as five siblings. The fundraiser says the boys are in stable condition but had to be airlifted to a Hennepin County hospital. So far, the fundraiser raised over $66,000 to support the family.