Two fires in four days displace families

• PHOTO: House fire

Fire rekindled Tuesday at 1812 W. Sixth St. Jon Swedien photo

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Two major house fires just four days apart displaced two Red Wing area families.

The most recent blaze occurred at 1812 W. Sixth St. Flames broke out shortly after noon Monday and again early Tuesday morning.

Red Wing firefighters responded to Tuesday's fire at 3:29 a.m. and battled flames for four hours, according to a fire department press release.

The house, belonging to Steve and Stacy Wood, was believed to be salvageable after Monday's fire, but is now considered a total loss.

"This is a devastating loss for the Steve and Stacy Wood family," Fire Chief Tom Schneider said in the release. "The fire (Tuesday) morning destroyed the residence beyond repair."

There were no injuries. The Woods were staying elsewhere after the original fire. The Red Cross is providing them with food, clothing and shelter.

Fire crews monitored the house all day Tuesday.

Schneider told the R-E a rekindled fire like Tuesday's is rare.

"As a department, we have very few rekindles," he said, adding fire crews work hard to ensure that when a fire is out it stays out. He said when firefighters left the scene Monday they were confident they'd snuffed out the possibility of a second fire.

"There was some little ember that didn't get exposed" by firefighters, Schneider said.

The first fire originated in a second story laundry room. The second fire broke out in the attic.

Schneider said the fires are still under investigation and there doesn't appear to be anything suspicious about them.

A separate blaze was called in at 8:42 p.m. Friday at 1754 Edoka St. in Welch.

Schneider said firefighters arrived on the scene 13 minutes later to find the house, owned by Ed and Tina Jefferson, engulfed in flames.

"It's fortunate everyone was out of the residence at the time of the fire," said Capt. Dan Simonson. "There would have been no way to attempt a rescue when we arrived."

No firefighters were injured during the incident, which fire officials suspect began in a bedroom.

Fire Marshal Andy Speltz said the home was a single-family residence consisting of two adjoining manufactured homes.

Firefighters attempted to contain the fire to the structure of origin. Schneider said that attack prevented a nearby garage from being damaged.

The fire was brought under control after about an hour. It was fully extinguished at about 12:15 a.m., though Schneider said two firefighters and one engine remained on scene throughout the night to extinguish flare-ups caused by the structure's collapse.

Speltz said the fire's cause remains under investigation, but likely will be ruled undetermined due to the extensive damage.

The fires marked the second and third major house fires of the year in the area. Lake City firefighters said a Florence Township home burned to the ground on Jan. 3.

One owner of a different fire-damaged home was recently victimized a second time when $300 worth of copper piping was stripped from the house, according to the Goodhue County sheriff's department. The theft happened Sunday at 33951 Hill Avenue Trail in Florence Township.

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