Falls Journal
Emily Geddes
Dozens of firefighters responded to a County Road 116 fire that broke out just after 1 p.m. on Friday.
With strong winds pushing a thick cloud of black smoke, crews worked to extinguish flames that had fully engulfed a garage and nearby residence.
“This is one of the hottest fires I’ve ever seen,” a bystander said as he watched members of the Rural Fire Protection Association co-ordinate efforts to douse the blaze.
A neighbour said Einar Korpi lived at the residence with his dog and reported both had gotten out of the home safely.
One man with slightly-burned clothing was loaded into an ambulance, but it is unknown if it was Korpi.
As flames encroached on power lines, a Minnesota Power crew appeared at the scene and Journal staff overheard that power had been shut off to the area.
Koochiching County Sheriff Perryn Hedlund said he didn’t have many details on the fire, but did confirm the Minnesota State Fire Marshal was en route to assist in the investigation.
The cause of the fire was unknown at press time.
