Posted: 7/6/06
Firework causes duplex fire in North Branch
 Firefighters prepare to cut a ventilation shaft in the upstairs apartment at 6621 Maple Street Monday morning. The fire is believed to have been caused by a firework that had been lit indoors. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
Fireworks were the ignition source of a fire that broke out in North Branch late last Monday morning, July 3.
According to Lt. Steve Forner of the North Branch Police Department, the fire at 6621 Maple Street, a duplex, was caused by a juvenile lighting a firework inside an upstairs apartment. The burning firework (it is not known if it was a legal firework in the state of Minnesota) was dropped and when the child went to stomp it out, it was accidentally kicked down a staircase instead.
The North Branch fire Department responded to the call at approximately 11:30, according to fire chief Don Brown. Aside from North Branch, departments from Harris and Almelund assisted at the scene.
No one was injured in the fire.
Fire fighters were able to contain the fire quickly and cleared the sence at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon.
Brown said that the rear portion of the upstairs apartment is a total loss, and the front half suffered extensive heat and smoke damage. As well, the downstairs apartment sustained fire damage in the back and heavy smoke damage in front.
Forner stated on Thursday that the fire would be listed as ìaccidentalî and that all investigative findings would be forwarded to Brown, who in turn will forward them to the state fire marshal.
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