Tyler Road house goes up in flames

A Red Wing home was destroyed Friday evening after flames tore through the structure.

The 312 Tyler Road residence, owned by Randy Beck, appeared to be a complete loss.

Beck's son, Kevin Beck, watched as firefighters tackled the blaze.

"All my memories are being burned to the ground right now," he said.

Early indications were that the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Red Wing resident Kelly Perkins was one of the first people to notice the fire - around 9 p.m. She and a friend were shopping at Wal-Mart when they saw flames shooting from the house as they drove out of the retailer's parking lot.

"We have to check it out," Perkins recalled saying.

She said two occupied vehicles were on the property when they arrived. The people were watching the house burn, Perkins said, and claimed they did not have mobile phones.

She said one of the males told her the fire had been burning for a half hour by the time she arrived.

Perkins said one of the males later kicked down a door in the house in hopes of freeing any trapped pets. Kevin Beck, who arrived at the scene as firefighters were battling the blaze, said he doubted any pets lived at the house.

Two vehicles were allowed to leave the scene. It did not appear anyone was taken into custody.

Kevin Beck suspected foul play, saying there have been recent thefts at the house.

"Someone must have torched the ... thing," Kevin Beck said.

He said his father, who was away from the home during the fire, has lived there for about 10 years.

Fire and police officials were not available for comment Friday night, though the Red Wing fire marshal was called to investigate.

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