Fire destroys Goodhue County home Saturday
Mar. 19—PINE ISLAND, Minn. — Fire officials in Goodhue County say a space heater might be responsible for a fire that destroyed a Roscoe Township home Saturday afternoon.
No one was injured in the fire, but tough weather conditions including ice made it difficult for firefighters to fight the blaze.
A passerby saw smoke from Goodhue County Highway 11 shortly before 1:30 p.m. and called emergency services to the house at 50200 block of 154th Avenue Way.
Crews from the Pine Island Fire Department found muddy conditions prevented crews from getting fire trucks close to the structure. By the time crews set up hose lines nearly 50 yards to the fire, firefighters found half of the home had already collapsed from the flames.
Fire officials report the home is a total loss. Crews had to bring water to the scene. They worked to protect a nearby shed which was not damaged by the fire.
Firefighters remained on the scene until about 6 p.m.
Fire officials say that a space heater in a back bedroom may have contributed to the blaze, but have asked the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the cause of the fire, according to David Friese, second assistant fire chief and secretary with the Pine Island Fire Department.
