Authorities continue investigation into house explosion in Mille Lacs County - Brainerd Dispatch

MILACA – The State Fire Marshal’s Office continued its investigation Wednesday, May 7, into a home explosion where the bodies of a Princeton couple were found Tuesday.

Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Evenson said his office secured the scene overnight and turned control over to the fire marshal’s office Wednesday morning to continue investigating the cause of the explosion.

On Tuesday, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a possible explosion at 3:54 a.m. in the 8200 block of 52nd Street, north of Princeton. According to a report, officers located a large debris field from an explosion that was still engulfed in flames at the time.

After the fire was extinguished, first responders located two victims: Royce Edward Kreger Jr., 60, and Katherine Ann Kreger, 61. They were pronounced dead at the scene. A family dog was also found dead in the rubble.

The Kregers have rented the home for the past three and a half years, Evenson said. He described the former house as a manufactured, double-wide trailer on a cinder block basement foundation.

Evenson said he believes the firefighter should complete the investigation by Wednesday evening, although his deputies would secure the scene overnight if they needed more time.

Assisting at the scene were the Princeton, Baldwin and Milaca fire departments, as well as the North Memorial Health Ambulance.

TIM SPEIER, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter

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