In northwestern Minnesota, a family of five boys and their father faced a terrifying ordeal after an accidental explosion at a storage unit in Bagley last Monday. The incident resulted in severe injuries for all six members of the Minnesota Family 5 Boys, necessitating urgent air transport to the HCMC’s Burn Unit in downtown Minneapolis for specialized medical care.
Dallas Lee, a passerby hailed as a Good Samaritan, recounted witnessing the harrowing scene to WDAY-TV. “It’s a pretty chaotic situation,” Lee stated, describing his initial reaction as “disbelief” upon seeing the flames erupt from the storage unit. Without hesitation, Lee grabbed a fire extinguisher from his vehicle and rushed towards the scene to assist the injured father and his five sons, whose ages range from 6 to 14 years old. Lee focused on providing immediate aid, stating, “I did the best I could to keep everybody calm and keep everybody moving away from the fire,” highlighting the urgency and confusion of the situation.
The family’s visit to the storage unit, intended to retrieve toy Legos, turned into a nightmare when a propane tank leak inside the unit ignited. Investigators determined that the father lighting a cigarette inadvertently triggered the explosion. Despite sustaining injuries himself, the father’s primary concern was for his children. Lee commendably noted the father’s selfless actions amidst the chaos, “Given everything that father was facing, he was doing his absolute best that those kids were taken care of,” and added, “Pretty impressive for him; in spite of all his injuries, he was taking care of his children.”
The mother of the five boys, JaCee Ritchie, released a statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS providing an update on her sons’ conditions. “At this time, all of my sons are being treated for burns and are in critical condition, however, they have begun making strides in the healing process,” Ritchie shared. Expressing profound gratitude and faith, she emphasized, “We are 100% convinced God is the reason they survived the explosion, followed by the incredible response from so many in the medical field along with an army of prayer warriors.”
The road to recovery for this Minnesota family 5 boys will be extensive and demanding, involving numerous surgeries and medical procedures. To support the family with the mounting medical expenses, loved ones have initiated a fundraising page. The community’s support is crucial as this Minnesota family 5 boys navigates this challenging chapter, underscoring the profound impact of community solidarity in times of crisis.
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