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TRACY, Minn. (AP) — A mother and three children were injured when their house exploded over the weekend in southwestern Minnesota.
Neighbor Matt Schons said he saw the mother right after Saturday morning's explosion in Tracy, and he said she told him it happened when she went to light her cigarette.
"'All of a sudden, boof! Just engulfed in flames,'" he quoted her as saying.
Schons and his wife, Sheena Schons, told WCCO-TV (http://cbsloc.al/PFAegF) they were awoken by glass shattering and looked out the window and saw their neighbor's living room was ablaze.
Sheena Schons called 911. Matt Schons saw the 7-year-old daughter run out the front door screaming for help and he ran over. He then saw the mother, Sonia Timmons, run out clutching her 2-year-old daughter.
He said she told him a baby was still inside, so he made his way through thick smoke looking for the 2-month-old.
"After I found where the crib was at, I picked the baby up and then it started to cry," he said.
The explosion was reported at about 9 a.m. Saturday, according to Tracy Fire Chief Dale Johnson III. The house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The family is being treated at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where the mother was in critical condition Sunday. The children's conditions were not being released.
Her fiance, Troy Haugen, released a statement Sunday through the hospital.
"Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time," Haugen said. "I would also like to thank the medical staff at Regions Hospital who are caring for Sonia. I am confident she is getting the best care possible."
The fire department released a statement Sunday saying it was still investigating the cause.
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Information from: WCCO-TV, http://www.wcco.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
