City Subscriptions

At 0440 hours the Duluth Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 409 Minneapolis Ave.  The original report came from a neighbor who called 911 and stated that the house next door was on fire on the exterior and he could not get the occupants out.  A second alarm was dispatched immediately due to the life hazard of the incident.

The first arriving fire company from Woodland Fire Station reported smoke coming from the building.  They also reported that the occupants were evacuating the building and everyone was out of the building shortly after their arrival. 

A line was laid to the rear of the two story single family home and the fire was knocked down.  The second alarm was cancelled minutes after fire department arrival, once it was known the fire was under control.  Crews worked for about 45 minutes overhauling the fire area at the rear of the house.

The damage to the home was limited to the one corner of the building.  Smoke damage to the rest of the house was minimal.  Damage is estimated at $15,000 for the building and $1,000 for contents.

One of the four male occupants stated that he heard the neighbor knocking but did not get up until the smoke detectors started sounding.  He then saw that the first floor was smoky so he woke everyone up and got them out of the building.  One occupant recieved minor smoke inhalation problems but did not go to the hospital. No firefighters were injured.

The cause of the fire was spontaneous combustion of natural materials next to the exterior wall of the house.  The leaves and other debris were inside of an overturned plastic garbage can.  The neighbor used a bucket of water to try and extinguish the fire before fire department arrival, but the fire had already extended into the wall behind the siding.  It is not known if the occupants will be able to stay in the home during repairs.