A fire damaged two Duluth homes early Wednesday. The cause remains under investigation.
The fire at 613 N. 21st Ave. W. and 2105 W. Sixth St. was reported at 2:34 a.m., Duluth Fire Department acting Assistant Fire Chief Lee Youngblom said.
When they arrived, firefighters found that the decks on a house and a duplex, as well as a shed, were burning. The fire had progressed to the interior of both homes. Firefighters had to attack the flames outside before they could enter. The house at 613 N. 21st Ave. W. was the most heavily involved, with fire from the basement through the second floor.
The noise of the fire apparently woke the two residents at 613 N. 21st Ave. W., and they were outside when authorities arrived. Duluth police arrived before the firefighters and woke the three occupants of the duplex at 2105 W. Sixth St. All the buildings' occupants escaped without harm, but a firefighter was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center after suffering chest pains. He was released after determining the symptoms were caused by flu complications.
The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the house at 613 N. 21st Ave. W. and $50,000 in damage to its contents. The house's garage had melted siding.
ADVERTISEMENT
The duplex at 2105 W. Sixth St. suffered an estimated $50,000 in damage to the structure and $10,000 to its contents. Firefighters were at the scene until 6 a.m.
