VIOLA, Minn. – A sheriff’s deputy helped a rural family escape a housefire and then went back inside and put out the fire. The deputy was the first to arrive at the property at 2078 100th Avenue Northeast, north of Eyota, around 10:30 a.m. The stovetop was aflame. The deputy aimed an extinguisher at the flames but couldn’t knock them down. After ushering the family out, the deputy returned inside, found the electrical service box, and shut off the power, which killed the fire. The fire was blamed on a stovetop malfunction, which caused food to boil over and start on fire. The stovetop was destroyed. There was other damage to the kitchen.
