A pre-dawn house fire on the 600 block of 5th Avenue South in St. Cloud tore through the upper floors early Wednesday, leaving 11 people displaced and sending one person to the hospital. Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames pouring from second and third story windows, but managed to corral the blaze to those upper levels. Neighbors and tenants said everyone got out, though several households now need temporary housing while investigators sort out what happened.
According to KNSI, the 911 call came in just before 1:00 a.m. When firefighters pulled up, they were met with heavy smoke and fire blowing from the second and third floor windows. The station reports the fire was contained to those floors and that one person was transported to a hospital for treatment. KNSI also notes that an investigation into the cause is underway.
How crews contained the blaze
The St. Cloud Fire Department responded with multiple units and, according to the department’s public page, focused on preventing horizontal spread while conducting searches and ventilation. The department’s website lists its main station at 101 10th Avenue North and says it fields full-time suppression crews capable of handling multi-story incidents, the kind of setup that was needed here. Crews kept the fire from jumping to nearby structures while emergency personnel checked the scene for hazards and injuries.
Red Cross steps in to help displaced residents
Local officials told KNSI that the American Red Cross is assisting the affected residents. The organization typically steps in with immediate shelter, meals, and casework after home fires. The Red Cross Minnesota & Dakotas site outlines services offered in the crucial first hours, including temporary lodging and help replacing critical items. Volunteers often coordinate with city crews and other nonprofits to connect families with short-term housing and recovery resources.
A worrying pattern?
Earlier this month, a separate pre-dawn apartment fire on Maine Prairie Road displaced more than 50 people and required ladder rescues and multi-agency support. The pre-dawn inferno was followed by a coordinated response from the St. Cloud Fire Department and the Red Cross to provide shelter and recovery help for dozens of families.
Investigators have not yet released a cause for Wednesday’s fire, and officials say they will share updates as origin-and-cause work continues. For safety information, to report tips, or to find resources for displaced residents, community members can turn to the St. Cloud Fire Department’s site and the American Red Cross Minnesota & Dakotas pages linked above.
