"Shook the building:" Bomb squad detonates tanks after explosion injured 2 at DPW garage

MILWAUKEE -- Two men were hurt in an explosion at the Milwaukee DPW Lincoln Avenue Garage near 38th and Lincoln Tuesday, July 18th. Witnesses said it sounded like a sonic boom, and they felt the ground move several blocks away. The investigation centered around a van at the city's compressed natural gas pumps on Lincoln Avenue. On Tuesday night, more explosions were heard in the area -- but these were controlled.

Around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, FOX6 News heard loud noises, and saw the Milwaukee Police Department's bomb squad robot in the area. Officials with the Milwaukee Fire Department said the bomb squad was detonating tanks that were inside the van.

Around 4:30 p.m., FOX6 News learned an evacuation was ordered of everyone within a 300-yard radius of the explosion. A hazmat unit from the Milwaukee Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, after it was learned there were more propane tanks in the van.

The explosion happened around 1:00 p.m.

"It sounded like someone hit the building," Alyssa Schnoebelen said.

"It sounded like a compressed air boom. Like a sonic boom," Karen Volz said.

Witnesses indicated the ground shook in such a way that they thought they were experiencing an earthquake.

"Very quick. Very loud. It just kinda shook the building," a witness said.  "I just thought 'wow, is it an earthquake?!'"

The witnesses indicated they saw a white van smoking underneath the compressed natural gas station. One man who works for a tow company across the street said he called police when he saw what happened.

"It shook the ground pretty good. It was very loud. I ran over there to see what was going on, and it was not a good sight. I saw somebody crawl out into the bushes and I immediately ran out and called 911," he said.

Pablo Ramos said he was walking down the street when the explosion happened, and he saw the injured men with blood on their lower bodies.

"There was a guy laying on the grass, probably 20 to 30 feet in front of the van. No shoes, bleeding from his legs pretty good, and between the van and the station, there was a man laying there in pretty bad shape," Ramos said.

Ramos said he approached one of the victims.

"Still conscious. He was till talking to us, but bleeding pretty good and his legs looked in pretty bad shape," Ramos said.

As the men were rushed to the hospital, the danger wasn't over. By afternoon, Milwaukee police expanded their perimeter, ordering an evacuation within 300 yards of the explosion. Some businesses in the area had to close early.

Lincoln Avenue was blocked off from 35th to Miller Park Way. For hours, drivers were forced to find new routes, as those who witnessed what happened said their thoughts are with the victims.

"Hopefully they'll make it and everything will be alright," Ramos said.

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This incident remains under investigation by the Milwaukee Police Department.