Sheriff: no injuries reported after Willow River pipeline explosion; utilities mostly restored

Sheriff Nelson briefed the board on a pipeline explosion near Willow River that drew multiple 911 calls and responses from four fire departments, the Pine County sheriff's office, Mille Lacs tribal police and ambulance services. Nelson said investigators found no evidence of a plane crash and that responders evacuated people inside a recommended perimeter; there were no reported injuries and no public-infrastructure failures required an emergency declaration because the incident involved private infrastructure.