Faribault Fire Chief Dustin Dienst reports at 3:36 p.m. on March 12, 2020 the Faribault Fire Department and North Ambulance were dispatched to the report of heavy smoke coming from a second story window with people still inside.

Dienst reported in a News Release that,  "Upon our arrival at 3:39 pm we witnessed smoke and were met by Faribault Police Officers exiting the building stating that they could hear voices and pounding in the upstairs apartment."

"Crews made entry and began searching for the occupants of the apartment that was involved with fire.  No one was located in that apartment.  Crews also searched the other upstairs apartment and no one was there either.  The fire was located in a bedroom on the Central Ave. side of the apartment.  A quick knock down was made with ventilation and search for fire extension starting shortly thereafter.  A secondary search of both apartments was performed by additional fire crews as they arrived on scene.  Overhaul was started along with an initial fire cause investigation.  The apartment where the fire started suffered heavy damage and the other apartment and the commercial areas had light to moderate smoke damage.  Crews cleared the scene at  5:07pm."

The Faribault Police Department, Faribault Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office performed an investigation on the fire.  The results of the investigation are not available at this time.

Fire Chief Dustin Dienst commented, “When the report of a fire in a downtown apartment with people trapped comes into the fire station many thoughts go through your mind.  Thankfully no one was injured by this fire and the damage was contained to the apartment of origin.”

 

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