Superior firefighters responded to a fire Sunday that caused a brief evacuation of the Bridgeview Hotel, 415 Hammond Ave. A sauna fire was started by a towel draped on a light fixture, according to Battalion Chief Mike Kolanczyk. The fire broke out at 12:26 p.m. and triggered an hourlong evacuation. The fire was confined to the sauna, which was a complete loss, Kolanczyk said. No monetary damages were listed and no one was injured.
Meanwhile, two Superior house fires remained under investigation.
The cause of a Thursday house fire at 1704 N. 24th St. that caused $10,000 damage is still undetermined, according to Kolanczyk. The fire started in the living room of the two-story wood-frame home about 7:47 p.m. The structure was unoccupied when firefighters responded. Kolanczyk said the owner was listed as having a last name of Eades, but no first name was available.
A Friday fire that destroyed the Allouez home of a family of eight also is under investigation. The blaze began about 3:35 p.m. Friday in the laundry room of the one-story residence. The three oldest children of Tony and Billie Jo Hewitt, who were home when the fire broke out, escaped the house with one of the family dogs. Most firefighters cleared the scene at 8:04 p.m., but a crew remained at the home in case the fire rekindled.
"The crew was there until 4 a.m. putting out hot spots," Kolanczyk said. "Part of the problem was the walls were insulated with sawdust."
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He said the main section of the home may have been built as early as the 1890s, which would account for the flammable insulation. The fire caused an estimated $75,000 damage, effectively totaling the home.
