Residents evacuated from Hillside Laundry building in Duluth

Five adults including a woman who is eight months pregnant were left homeless Tuesday after a large blaze damaged Hillside Laundry and two apartments above it in Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood.

Several people called 911 about 4:30 p.m. and reported flames shooting out the front window of the laundry at 103 W. Fourth St., according to Duluth Acting Assistant Fire Chief Dane Youngblom.

Residents were evacuated from the row of buildings from 101-109 W. Fourth St., and at least two cats were rescued by firefighters. One female occupant was transported to a local hospital for possible smoke inhalation, according to a news release sent by the Duluth Fire Department. Many of those evacuated and standing outside in the rain were able to take shelter in a city bus.

Karen Shearer, who's lived in the building for about four years, said she was in her apartment when a neighbor alerted her to the fire.

"I didn't know what was going on until a neighbor came and yelled," she said. "I couldn't get my cat to come to me so a firefighter got it out."

Resident Jody Ross said she had arrived home just minutes before people began yelling about a fire in the building.

"I grabbed my cat, jacket and threw on my boots," she said. "I couldn't believe it."

Jolien Jorgenson left her nearby home to check out the fire and was standing across the street when a firefighter brought a cat. She offered to help.

"My heart was just broke when I saw a firefighter come over and the poor cat was laying there not moving and struggling to breathe," she said.

A firefighter affixed an oxygen mask and Jorgenson held the cat until it gradually became stronger.

When no owner appeared, Jorgenson offered to take the animal home for the night and said anyone missing a cat should contact the Duluth Fire Department.

Youngblom said he didn't know how the fire started but that it would be investigated by the Duluth Fire Marshal's office. The fire destroyed the interior of the laundry but was stopped before reaching into adjacent buildings or the upstairs apartments, fire officials said in a news release. Two upstairs apartments were significantly damaged by smoke. Initial damage estimates were set from $150,000 to $200,000.

One of the fire-damaged apartments was home to three residents and the other had two residents, according to Tony Guerra, emergency services director for the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross. Red Cross was assisting the families.

The other evacuated residents were allowed back into their apartments by Tuesday evening.

There are a total of 10 apartments upstairs and five businesses on the lower level in the row of buildings, historically known as the Union Block, according to Franz Bier. Although Bier is listed as the owner of the buildings in city records, he said property manager Michael Piper is making payments to purchase the block from him.

Hillside Laundry was the site of a fatal shooting on July 29, 2008, when James Alton Peterson was shot in the doorway of the business. Terence Leon Callender has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the incident and has a trial date set for Jan. 18.