The cries. The pain. The silence that followed.

It’s been nearly four decades since Bob Jacobson ran headlong into an inferno — not because he was told to, but because someone needed help. What he found amid the flames still remains vivid in his memories — a woman so badly burned she could no longer see, her voice cracking with pain, her body failing with every breath.

That woman was Beverly Spano.

Jacobson, now the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, was a 26-year-old New Brighton cop about halfway through his overnight shift when a call came over the radio — an explosion and fire in the neighboring community of Mounds View. Jacobson looked to the north and could see the flames from 2 miles away. 

Thinking what he was seeing was a downed commercial airliner, Jacobson sped to the scene — his squad car’s flashing lights and blazing siren alerting others to an emergency. What he saw when he got to Mounds View was a nightmare. 

Woodcrest Drive was a sea of fire. Melted power lines, exploding manhole covers and small explosions created a deadly gauntlet for Jacobson, who ran through the burning asphalt and towering flames trying to find the source of the hellish fire. 

That’s when he came across Beverly Spano in her driveway. Jacobson still remembers his time with Beverly in great detail. Her agony was palpable. Blistering burns covered her body. The flames robbed her in her final moments of her eyesight. 

Jacobson knew this woman was dying — and so did she. He called for an ambulance and tried to keep Beverly calm, telling her how brave she was.  

“I was there to share her pain with her, to talk to her so she didn’t suffer her final moments alone,” Jacobson said. “I wish that this would have never happened to anyone but I’m glad that I was there for that family in that moment. I’ll never forget my time talking with Bev … in the last moments of her life.”

Thirty-nine years later, Jacobson is the commissioner of the department that houses the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), which was created as a result of the pipeline explosion that killed Spano and her 6-year-old daughter Jennifer. 

Jacobson said it has been an honor to remember Beverly and share his experience with first responders and pipeline safety officials across the state. While tragic, the story reinforces the importance of the work they do.

“They are unsung heroes,” Jacobson said. “They work hard to keep people safe because they know the ramifications if they don’t do their jobs well — and they do their jobs well, make no mistake.”

The pipeline explosion that killed Beverly and Jennifer wasn’t caused by unsafe digging, but it serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences when pipeline safety is ignored. Today, OPS staff work to prevent tragedies by ensuring pipelines are properly constructed, monitored and maintained.

Don Spano, Beverly’s husband, spoke to pipeline safety officials and operators earlier this week. He asked them to remember not just his wife and daughter, but the number 27.

“This was a life-changing event. It did not just affect myself, my then-wife, my then-daughter, my daughter who is here today. It affected a lot of people — 27 people.” Spano said. “Twenty-seven. That’s one number I want you to always think about.”

He asked safety officials to continue their important work. 

“Give the public no more opportunities to experience what we did in 1986,” he said. “Let’s not repeat that again.  Think about the importance of your work and share that number 27 with others.”

Safety isn’t just the responsibility of pipeline operators. Anyone who digs — whether for a home project or large construction — must do their part to prevent damage. That’s why Safe Digging Month is so important. Calling 811 before digging is a simple step that helps prevent pipeline incidents, protects lives and keeps communities safe.

“By remembering Beverly’s story, we can honor her and others affected by pipeline incidents,” Jacobson said. “When we do our part to dig safely, we can prevent future tragedies. I think that would make Bev proud and ensure her life wasn’t lost in vain.”

Visit the Gopher State One Call website to file an online request to mark utilities before you dig.