St. Paul enacts measures to prevent vacant building explosions

The bad economy has resulted in a lot of vacant buildings, a problem that gave St. Paul Fire Chief Tim Butler concern. Butler, along with city officials, worked to create a new law that requires vacant buildings to have their gas supply shut off or have an excess flow valve installed to reduce the chance of a natural-gas explosion. Mayor Chris Coleman and City of St. Paul Officials gathered for a press conference on Charles Ave. last week to celebrate the new regulation.