LAKE CITY, Minn. — Firefighters climbed through an upstairs bedroom window of a blazing house and found a seriously burned woman in the heavy smoke. They pulled her outside. In a second entry they found the lifeless body of a man believed be her father. The man was identified as Richard “RJ” Arruda, age 45. The rescued woman was believed to be his daughter. She was taken to the Regions Hospital burn center 60 miles away in St. Paul. The family dog Molly died in the fire. The fire, on North Washington Street, a block off Lake City’s main street, was about 7 a.m. Fire Chief Dan Patterson said the house incinerated quickly. It was what’s called a balloon design developed in the 1800s as a cheap way for amateurs yo nail together light lumber and get a house uo quickly. Although the house burned quickly, it took firefighters seven hours to put out. About 35 firefighters responded, including crews from Wabasha, 20 miles away, and Zumbro Falls, 15 miles away Eight paramedics and three ambulances also responded.

The last water streams. Firefighters at scene until afternoon.

Arruda. With his dog Molly. Both perished.