Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester Fire Department was called out into the bitter cold early Sunday after an explosion was reported in a home on the southeast edge of the city.

Deputy Chief Steven Belau says the occupants of the home at 4211 28th street southeast called 911 around 1:40 a.m. and reported the boiler in their heating system had exploded.

The police officers who first rushed to the scene reported seeing flames shooting into the sky and the fire was so intense firefighters had to begin their attack from outside the house. Belau says they were eventually able to enter after knocking down the largest part of the fire and worked to save what they could. The home sustained significant damage is not habitable.

Belau says all of the occupants of the got out safely, but one person did require treatment for smoke inhalation. The responding firefighters had to work in temperatures that were falling through the teens below zero and wind chill readings around -40 as they battled to the fire, which was put out about an hour after the original 911 call.

The cause of the explosion and fire is under investigation.

 

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