40 South Benson Drive. Heat melted front ends of vehicles on driveway. Vinyl siding scorched and warped on next-door house. Inage: Steve Lunde
Family flee just in time into chilly night
LEWISTON, Minn. – A family safely escaped a fire that destroyed a South Side house near the elementary school. The house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. This was about 2:40 a.m. The husband, wife and a 17-year-old were standing outside with temperatures in the 40s. The husband, who had been asleep on a couch, said he was awakened by popping in the attached garage. He opened the door and realized that shotgun shells were exploding in the flames. He awakened the household. They fled as the fire ripped through the rest of the structure. What triggered the fire was not determined immediately.