1 Dead, 2 Jump Out 2nd-Story Window In Eagan Fire
EAGAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- One man is dead and two others are hospitalized after a fire engulfed a town home in Eagan.
Firefighters had to battle mother nature as they tried to get control of the fire.
The fire started shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday morning, on the 1500 block of Aspen Drive. When crews arrived on scene, the structure was fully engulfed in flames and heavy smoke was observed in the area.
Two men who were trapped on the second level of the home were forced to jump out a second-story window. Both sustained injuries, but it's unclear how severe. They were transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul for treatment and evaluation.
Officers were also advised that one man was trapped on the second floor. After the fire was extinguished, fire personnel on the scene located a deceased victim on the second floor.
Firefighters had a difficult time putting out the fire because of the cold weather. The Apple Valley and Mendota Heights fire departments responded to assist with mutual aid.
"With this cold weather, it's just making it that much harder, a couple of fire fighters have fallen down on the ice, it makes it pretty slippery," said Mike Scott, Eagan fire chief.
Fire officials say the fire started on the first floor but they don't know how it started. Three units of the four-plex town home were evacuated. There were residents in two of the adjacent units and one was vacant.
A family of three was evacuated from one unit and a man was evacuated from the second unit. Neither were injured in the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
