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Excerpts from the journal times.com:
A recent criminal investigation into the cause of a major explosion that destroyed several buildings and claimed the life of a volunteer firefighter last July has concluded that no criminal activity was involved, according to Sun Prairie Police Chief Patrick Anhalt. The incident was traced back to a breakdown in communication between utility contractors and their subcontractors, which led to an underground gas line being incorrectly marked before the explosion on July 10.
Abigail Barr, the widow of Captain Cory Barr of the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department—who lost his life in the blast—filed a lawsuit on Thursday, holding VC Tech, Bear Communications, USIC Locating Services, and We Energies accountable for her husband’s death. She claims these companies failed in their responsibility to ensure safe working conditions during the construction project.
Two other volunteer firefighters, Ryan Welch and Greg Pavlik, also filed lawsuits against the same four companies, alleging personal injuries sustained during the incident.
A police report released on Thursday revealed that the failure to properly mark the location of a fiber-optic cable being installed by Verizon led to the disaster. A subcontractor had left the project early, leaving the marking work incomplete. As a result, the company responsible for marking the pavement did not finish locating the underground utilities. When the task was handed over to another subcontractor, the Verizon contractor assumed the work had already been completed. This misunderstanding led the new subcontractor to strike the gas line, triggering the explosion that destroyed multiple businesses and injured several people.
The state Fire Marshal’s Office stated in its final report that while they were unable to determine the exact cause of the gas ignition, they confirmed the explosion originated near the Barr House, located at 100 W. Main Street.
This incident has sparked renewed discussions about safety protocols and communication practices in utility work, with many calling for stricter oversight and accountability to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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