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THE DULUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A CALL OF A STRUCTURE FIRE AT 121 E 4TH ST. WHILE RESPONDING HEAVY SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM HQ FIRE STATION. SQD #251 ANNOUNCED A WORKING FIRE WHILE ENROUTE. UPON ARRIVAL HEAVY FIRE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE CHARLIE/DELTA CORNER OF A TWO-STORY SIDE-BY-SIDE VACANT DUPLEX. THE FIRE WAS EXTENDING TO A SECOND, TWO STORY DUPLEX. DURING ARRIVAL OF INITIAL COMPANIES, A CALL FOR A SECOND ALARM AND FIRE COMMAND STAFF WAS REQUESTED DUE TO THE SIZE AND NUMBER OF HOUSES. CREWS PULLED LINES AND STARTED FIRE ATTACK ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE INITIAL HOUSE. THE FIRE HAD GAINED HEADWAY AND IGNITED THE SECOND HOUSE. FIRE CREWS STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKDOWN OF THE MAIN BODY OF THE FIRE. 3 CREWS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST HOUSE, WHILE 3 ADDITIONAL COMPANIES ATTACKED THE SECOND DUPLEX. A PRIMARY SEARCH OF EACH HOUSE WAS CONDUCTED AND BOTH RESULTED IN ZERO OCCUPANTS. THE FIRE IN THE FIRST HOUSE WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AND OVERHAUL WAS STARTED. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR ARRIVED ON SCENE AND STARTED THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRST HOUSE.  CREWS APPLIED FOAM TO THIS HOUSE AND EFFORTS WERE DIRECTED TO OPENING WALLS TO CHECK FOR ANY EXTENSION TO THE ATTIC. CREWS ATTAINED COMPLETE EXTINGUISHMENT SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

 THE CREWS WORKING ON THE SECOND DUPLEX VENTILATED THE ROOF TO AID IN THE EXTINGUISHEMENT OF THE HOUSE. AN ADDITIONAL VENT HOLE WAS CUT IN THE GABLE END TO INCREASE THE VENTILATION. THE CEILING WAS PULLED ON THE SECOND FLOOR TO EXPOSE THE FIRE. ONCE EXPOSED, CREWS WERE ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE FIRE.  FIRE CALLBACK RESULTED IN EIGHT ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDING FOR A TOTAL OF 43 FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE. CREWS REMAINED ON SCENE FOR OVER 3 HOURS TO COMPLETE EXTINGUISHMENT.

 ONE FIREFIGHTER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR AN ELEVATED HEART RATE AND LATER RELEASED. THERE WERE NO CIVILIAN INJURIES AS THE LONE OCCUPANT OF THE SECOND HOUSE VACATED UPON OUR ARRIVAL.

 OCCUPANTS OF THE SECOND HOUSE WERE UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE HOME. THEY WERE ALOWED TO GATHER SOME ESSENTIAL ITEMS BEFORE LEAVING. DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED TO BE $135,000.00. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE DULUTH FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE. ANY FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.