Sun Prairie explosion: Read the original reports about the 2018 blast that killed firefighter, damaged downtown
Here's a look at all of the news coverage of a massive gas explosion and fire on July 10, 2018, in downtown Sun Prairie that killed a firefighter, injured another and destroyed several buildings.
(36) updates to this series since
"The city's going to need to participate in funding," Mayor Paul Esser said, and while it's not a landowner, it's a "partner in the sense of getting things done."
The Public Service Commission determined that drilling company VC Tech violated state law when it failed to contact the state’s underground utility location service before starting work on July 10, 2018.
Several companies sued earlier over the natural gas explosion have been sued again, this time by a group of residents who lost their homes.
More than 500 people attended the remembrance ceremony, many with tears in their eyes as the mayor, fire chief and the firefighter's wife spoke.
The July 10, 2018, natural gas-fueled explosion in the city's downtown killed Fire Capt. Cory Barr.
The Public Service Commission will hold back-to-back sessions on June 14 to gather evidence on whether drilling company VC Tech violated state law when it failed to notify the state utility call center, known as Diggers Hotline, before starting work on July 10.
Garrison said the project and its location has the blessing of Barr's widow, Abby, he said.
Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn said it's too early in the lawsuits and there's not enough information to decide whether the lawsuits are barred by a legal doctrine called the Firefighter's Rule.
Cory Barr, 34, was not on duty when the gas leak was reported, but went to the scene anyway to clear people from the area.
The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to investigate a complaint filed by a complaint filed by USIC Locating Services, the company that was contracted to mark the locations of underground pipes.
The city of Sun Prairie on Friday sued communications contractors, a utility locating service, a gas utility and two insurance companies over costs it incurred because of a gas explosion last summer in the city's downtown area.
Bear Communications and VC Tech were each fined $12,934 for their roles in the destructive July 10 explosion that killed a volunteer firefighter.
A panel charged with policing utility notification laws last week sent the Public Service Commission a case based on a complaint filed by USIC Locating Services.
Police say a broken chain of communication between utility contractors and subcontractors resulted in the location of a gas line being improperly marked prior to the July 10 explosion.
Sun Prairie police squad car video showing the moment a gas line exploded in the city's downtown on July 10.
Repairs are still ongoing while some business remain closed and others have relocated.
A worker for a company that marks underground utilities failed to properly mark a gas line that was ruptured in Sun Prairie, causing a massive explosion, instead placing it 25 feet away, a search warrant states.
Two months to the day that a fatal July 10 gas leak explosion destroyed a downtown Sun Prairie block and killed one firefighter, a local disas…
The slow recovery of Downtown Sun Prairie following the deadly explosion in July is gaining momentum.
Heroic efforts by Sun Prairie's fire department prior to explosion shows off its training and professionalism, chief says.
The special night will raise funds and recognize those who responded to the recent explosion in Sun Prairie. That includes firefighter Cory Barr, who was killed.
The worker told the dispatcher, "it's bad," after explaining a main had been struck.
Police are expected to be done with the scene this week but still have much work to do before wrapping up their investigation
About 2,500 first responders and community members crowded the Sun Prairie High School gymnasium, where pastors from Barr's church, officials in the fire department and family spoke about Barr's life and final sacrifice.
Memorial services were held Saturday July 14, 2018 for Sun Prairie firefighter Capt. Cory Barr at Sun Prairie High School. Barr was killed Tue…
VC Tech employees were on the scene before the blast working on aspects of Bear Communications' work to build a fiber network in the Madison area.
The Red Cross said about two dozen residences were destroyed or are uninhabitable in the area immediately near the blast's epicenter.
About 100 service vehicles escorted the body of Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Cory Barr Wednesday night.
Broken glass is removed and plywood is filling the open gaps but it remains unclear when the street will reopen for vehicle traffic and when many of the businesses will decide to reopen.
Verizon Wireless and a Kansas-based construction company said Thursday that they were responsible, through an as-yet-unnamed subcontractor, for work being done at the site of a massive natural gas explosion Tuesday that rocked Sun Prairie’s downtown, killing a volunteer firefighter and critically injuring another.
Firefighters and rescue workers from throughout Southern Wisconsin join the processional for firefighter Captain Cory Barr on Wednesday night,…
Cory Barr was off-duty and at home with his family when he heard there was a gas leak Downtown, his brother said. Barr told his wife he needed to help evacuate the area.
For those interested in helping those affected recover after the gas leak explosion in Downtown Sun Prairie, there are a number of ways to support.
Many downtown business owners have not had a chance to evaluate any potential losses and have not had access to their businesses.
Work crews armed with push brooms and shovels removed broken glass, and contractors filled window openings with plywood as this city’s downtow…
Residents were recovering and workers were cleaning up Wednesday after a gas leak led to a massive explosion that killed a firefighter and destroyed or damaged several buildings in downtown Sun Prairie.
SUN PRAIRIE—Cory James Barr, age 34, died in the line of duty, for Sun Prairie Fire Department, on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. He was born on Feb.…
The blast zone will remain off limits and is protected by temporary cyclone fencing.
A firefighter was killed and another critically injured after a massive gas explosion and fire downtown Tuesday night in Sun Prairie. Here's a…
The deadly blast that rocked Sun Prairie on Tuesday is the most recent explosion in the Madison area, but there have been several more over th…
A contractor hit a natural gas main causing a massive explosion that leveled the Barr House and set fire to Glass Nickel Pizza.
Two people were treated for smoke inhalation after a cooking fire Monday displaced residents of a duplex, the Sun Prairie Fire Department reported.
Though the bell tower was destroyed decades ago, its revival is a symbol of restoration for Sun Prairie after the July 2018 explosion that leveled a section of downtown.
The organization said two women claiming to be Salvation Army representatives went door to door on the Near West Side asking for money.
Oppenheimer and Mayor Paul Esser would not comment on the investigation, but police have said criminal charges have not been ruled out.
More than a dozen businesses in downtown Sun Prairie remain closed a week and a half after a natural gas explosion and fire rocked the city July 10.
Update: Authorities cleared the scene shortly after 11:30 p.m. Friday.
The homeowner and neighbors reported hearing and explosion and seeing flames and smoke coming from the shed on the 2800 block of Highway MN at about 1:30 a.m.
Columbia, Adams, Juneau and Marquette counties reported losing 911 services. Frontier Communications internet and phone customers also lost service.
When the Beloit Memorial and Sun Prairie football teams meet Aug. 24, donations will be accepted for the Sun Prairie relief fund in the aftermath of the July 10 explosion that killed a firefighter.
Sun Prairie will celebrate the re-opening of its downtown Saturday, more than three months after a gas leak explosion destroyed several buildings and killed a volunteer firefighter.
The Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department captain killed in a Downtown explosion in July 2018 is set to be memorialized by having the local post office named in his honor.
Downtown Sun Prairie is historic, and now has the proof.
CHIPPEWA FALLS — A shooter killed three family members at a home in a small Wisconsin town, then went to a residence in a nearby community and…
Barr, a 15-year veteran of the Sun Prairie Fire Department, was killed by an explosion last July while responding to a natural gas leak.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission found Muscatine Utility Services violated the law when its boring tool came within inches of a gas pipeline. The pipeline owner says new laws would improve public safety.
A Mexican American man from Wisconsin is charged with homicide as a hate crime because prosecutors say he intentionally crashed his pickup truck into a motorcyclist and killed the man because he was white.
A little more than two years ago, an explosion started by a gas leak leveled several buildings in the downtown and killed a firefighter.