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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: 8/29/2021
SUBJECT: East Hillside apartment building suffers $80,000 in damages from fire
BY: Assistant Chief Clint Reff & Kate Van Daele, PIO

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Structure Fire
CASE NO.: 21-9586
INCIDENT DATE: 8/28/2021
INCIDENT TIME: 10:36p.m.
INCIDENT LOCATION: 1100 block of East 3rd Street

East Hillside apartment building suffers $80,000 in damages from fire

[Duluth, MN] Just after 10: 30 p.m. on August 28, the Duluth Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire in a multi-unit apartment building. The nine-unit apartment building was located on the 1100 block of East 3rd Street. The reporting party told dispatch that smoke was coming from the back of the building in an exterior staircase that was enclosed. On arrival, crews saw smoke and flames coming from the first and second windows in the exterior stairwell.

When crews arrived, tenants were seen evacuating from the building. One tenant who had already vacated shared her concerns for her two cats who were still inside her unit.

Crews laid lines from the nearest hydrant to attack the rear side of the building. While that was occurring, additional crews did a primary and secondary search of all units from the front of the building. During the primary search, crews located a total of five cats in three different apartments. Three cats were sheltered in place during the fire, and two additional cats were pulled out during the secondary search.

Crews continued the fire attack on the rear exterior stairwell. Additional crews began overhauling the exterior stairwell and its ceiling. Overhauling continued until the fire was extinguished.

Firefighters checked on the three cats that remained in their units after the fire, and all were okay and reported to be happy to see their owners. No people or pets were injured during this incident.

Damage is estimated to be $80,000 to the structure. Multiple units experienced smoke damage from the fire. One tenant has been displaced due to water that came into their unit. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Duluth Fire Marshal’s Office.  No additional information is available at this time.

Crews from Headquarters, Lakeside, Spirit Valley, UMD, and Woodland responded to the call. Thanks to Duluth Police for providing traffic control for several hours. Minnesota Power was called to the scene to turn off the power while firefighters worked to put out the fire. 

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