Fireplace Debris Suspected of Starting Fire at Rural Oronoco Home

Oronoco, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Pine Island Fire Department responded to a house fire overnight.

Assistant Fire Chief David Friese reported that a report of a chimney fire in a home at 813 White Bridge Road Northeast was received shortly after 12:30 AM. He indicated Pine Island firefighters had just cleared from another fire call nearby and were able to arrive at the scene within a few minutes of the fire being reported.

Friese says the responding fire crew spotted smoke coming from the second floor and the occupants of the house outside. They stated that they were awake when smoke began to spread throughout the home.

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After conducting a search to make sure no one was still inside the house, Friese says the firefighters found and extinguished active fires on the first and second floors of the house. They reported finding heavy fire damage near the fireplace that extended into the second floor and the basement of the home.

Friese says the firefighters also extinguished a fire found in the outside walls that had spread toward the roof of the house before clearing the scene around 4:45 AM.

A preliminary investigation suggests fire debris from the fireplace may have been to blame. The damage from the fire was estimated to be around $100,000.

The Pine Island Fire Department was assisted by Oronoco First Responders, the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office, American Red Cross, the State Fire Marshal's Office, and People’s Energy Cooperative.

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