Rochester Firefighters Battle Apartment & House Fires Within 8 Hours of Eachother

Rochester Firefighters Fight Blazes at Apartment and House Within 8 Hours of Each Other

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester firefighters fought a pair of residential fires in a span of less than eight hours. 

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The first fire started Friday night and the second occurred early Saturday morning.

Along with the fires, crews also dealt with frigid temperatures and strong wind gusts. Firefighters had to spread sand at the scene of Saturday morning’s fire in order to maintain footing. 

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Main Floor of Southeast Rochester Apartment Heavily Damaged by Fire

Friday night’s fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m. in the 800 block of Homestead Village Lane SE. 

The first arriving crew encountered heavy smoke coming from the front door of one of the apartments. 

Firefighters forced entry into the home and immediately encountered a heavy fire inside of the apartment’s doorway, officials say. Crews hit the fire with heavy water and were able to immediately extinguish the main body of the fire. 

All of the apartment’s occupants were confirmed to have gotten out safely following a search of the residence. No injuries were reported. 

The fire department also says the main floor of the two-floor apartment suffered heavy damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Fire Causes Roof of Northwest Rochester Home to Partially Collapse

Crews responded to Saturday morning’s fire shortly before 3 a.m. in the 1600 block of 19th Ave. NW. The first firefighters to arrive found fire coming from one of the single-family home’s corners. 

Crews hit the fire with hose lines from inside and outside of the residence. Firefighters also found an additional fire in the home’s attic, which had to be fought from the outside because the structure’s roof had begun to sag. 

A search of the home had confirmed all residents had gotten out safely, however two cats are unaccounted for. No injuries were reported. 

The home’s interior suffered significant damage and a partial roof collapse, officials say. The cause of the Saturday morning fire is also under investigation. 

Mayo Clinic Ambulance, the Rochester Police Department, Rochester Public Utilities and a chaplain responded to both fire scenes.