A suspected arson fire caused an estimated $60,000 in damage to a vacant Central Hillside apartment building this afternoon.
The Duluth Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from a building at 221 E 3rd St. shortly after noon. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from the eves and cracks of the four-unit apartment building.
The fire was mostly on the second story of the building, but it had burned down through the floor and spread to the building first story. Flames had also burned through a wall to the outside. The building was full of heavy smoke.
The fire was knocked down in about 10 minutes. Firefighters spend another hour to extinguish flames in concealed spaces.
No firefighters were injured in the blaze. The damage to the building included fire damage to two rooms on the second floor and one room on the first floor. Smoke damage was heavy in two apartments and light in the other two units.
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Any one with information on the cause of the fire can call (800) 723-2020 or the Duluth Fire Marshal's Office at 730-4398.
