WINONA, Min. — A burning candle may have started a predawn fire in upstairs apartments at a Third Street building downtown on November 6. Firefighters reported they found two candles still burning when they charged into a walk-up apartment from which smoke was coming. In their after-action report, firefighters said the door to the apartment was open. Inside was a resident standing in shoulder-high smoke. “Get out,” they said. “Now.” It was about 5:50 a.m. Evacuating the four second-floor apartments units, in the 200 block of East Third Street, was not easy. Across the ball another resident wandered out of an apartment and was told, also, to evacuate. By this time a light smoke had floated to the ceiling of the whole second floor. The fire was spreading rapidly. Firefighters knocked on other apartments and advised people to get out. One resident, slow to leave, had to be assisted out through the smoke. Meanwhile, the fire dispatcher called in all volunteers. Heavy black smoke was pushing out a side window, then heavy flames. Firefighters quashed the fire. The evacuated residents, in the street, eventually were allowed back in to gather belongings and find lodging elsewhere.
Fire Department profile
Chief: Curt Biddle.
Staff: 21 full-time firefighters, including nine paramedics. Also 22 part time.
Station houses:
> 451 East Third Street.
> 1077 West Sixth Street.
Fleet: Two front- line pumpers, two back-up pumpers, a 105-foot aerial truck, a 2,000-gallon tanker.
Calls: 2,000 a year, 69% for medical reasons r rescue.