Early morning explosion destroys business, rocks Main Street

Early Tuesday morning, an explosion destroyed one business, damaged nearby buildings, and could be heard from miles away.

At around 4:30 am, Talkeetna Tako, a food truck that has called Main Street home for years, exploded, sending debris dozens of yards away.  Windows in surrounding businesses were shattered, and items on shelves were thrown to the floor. The door of the trailer was found across the street on the roof of another food truck near the beer garden of the Fairview Inn. The Fairview had many of its front-facing windows shattered.

Immediately behind Talkeetna Tako is a residence owned by the Sheldon family. Reportedly, the home suffered significant damage.  The Sheldons were not home at the time. Part of the roof of the truck landed in the Sheldons’ back yard.

Talkeetna Fire Chief Eric Chappel says a propane leak with an unknown ignition source caused the blast.

Cleanup began shortly after the explosion. By 9:00 am, almost all of the debris and glass had been cleared from the street. In addition to Talkeetna Tako’s owners, multiple locals turned up to help clear the debris.  No one was injured in the explosion, and Talkeetna Tako’s owner, John Krattinger, says the business is insured.