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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Fire Department
602 West Second Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802
218-730-4400 •www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact Kelli Latuska,
Public Information Officer at 218-730-5309
DATE: 7/25/2020
SUBJECT: Structure Fire
BY: Assistant Chief Clint Reff

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Structure fire
CASE NO.: 20-7744
INCIDENT DATE: 7/25/2020
INCIDENT TIME: 05:38
INCIDENT LOCATION: 8300 Grand Ave

At 05:38 this morning, the Duluth Fire Department responded to a structure fire at an abandoned house at 8300 Grand Ave. Initial report stated a vacant house with smoke coming from the roof. The first arriving crew found heavy fire on the rear side of the house. The house had been vacant and deemed unsafe for interior firefighting operations.

Large hand lines were deployed to the rear of the building to try and knock down the fire. This proved extremely problematic due to the secured nature of the building. We were able to gain exterior access from a failed basement door. This helped in putting large amounts of water on the fire and briefly containing it.

Due to the limited avenues for fire attack, the fire was able to breach the basement ceiling and travel to the first floor. This extension resulted in the first floor becoming fully involved with fire. A tactical shift was initiated with the primary goal of protecting the exposed house to the west of the involved house.

Damage estimates are unavailable at this time and the cause of the fire is undetermined. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.