Man Dies After Firework Explosion on Rooftop of Former TCAAP Site in Shoreview
Published: July 7th, 2026.
RAMSEY COUNTY: A man in his 20s died after a firework exploded while he was on the roof of an abandoned building at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) site in Shoreview early Saturday morning, according to the Lake Johanna Fire Department.
The incident happened at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 5, when the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call reporting that a man had suffered a firework explosion in his hand while on the roof of an abandoned building near County Road I.
Responding agencies included the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, Lake Johanna Fire Department, and Allina Medical Transportation.
While first responders were en route, dispatchers received an update that the man had sustained serious injuries to his face and chest and was unconscious but still breathing.
Deputies located the patient unconscious on the roof of the abandoned building at the former TCAAP site. According to the fire department, the building's stairs could not be safely used for a rescue, prompting a request for assistance from the Minnesota Air Rescue Team (MART) helicopter.
Firefighters and deputies began providing medical care and preparing the patient for removal. Lake Johanna Fire Department's Ladder 113, a 101-foot articulating aerial platform, was able to access the roof, allowing responders to place the patient into a Stokes basket and safely lower him to the ground. The MART helicopter was no longer needed, and the request was canceled.
The man was transported by Allina paramedics, accompanied by two firefighters, to Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) in Minneapolis. Despite being rushed into surgery, he later died from his injuries.
Investigators later determined the man had been holding a mortar tube with a 2-inch firework when it exploded. The incident reportedly occurred in front of a group of approximately 15 to 20 people.
The Lake Johanna Fire Department extended its condolences to the man's family and friends.
The incident remains under investigation by multiple state and local agencies.