Update: Animals, Vehicles & Barn Lost in Rural Rochester Fire

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester Firefighters fought a rural fire during frigid temperatures on Saturday.

See Also: Body Found in Burnt Vehicle Registered to Missing Rochester Man

Firefighters were dispatched to the blaze shortly after 1:45 p.m. A news release issued by the Rochester Fire Department says crews could see a large plume of black smoke several miles away from the scene.

Upon arrival the rural structure, described as a shed, was fully engulfed by the fire.

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Shed Housing Animals on Rural Rochester, MN Property Destroyed by Fire

The fire broke out in the 7200 block of 30th St. Southeast. Firefighters established a water shuttle operation with the Eyota Fire Department and began knocking down the flames.

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Most of the structure had been destroyed by the fire before fire crews could get the blaze under control. No civilian or emergency responder injuries were reported, the news release says.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office said Monday that the barn, along with an undisclosed number of livestock, domestic animals and vehicles inside of it were lost in the blaze. The owner estimates the damages at $500,000.

photo by Andy Brownell/Townsquare Media

The cause of the fire is not available as of Sunday morning, however it is not believed to be suspicious. Eyota Fire, Eyota Ambulance, People’s Energy Cooperative, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, and Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to the rural fire.

Story updated to include new information released by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office.

More Minnesota News:

These Common Household Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew

Filed Under: fire, Olmsted County Sheriff, Rochester Minnesota

Categories: Local News