Fire Damages House In Vadnais Heights

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) – At least one firefighter was injured after an early-morning house fire in Vadnais Heights, according to White Bear Lake Fire Chief Paul Peltier.

Fire officials received a report of a garage fire at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday at 7 Daniels Farm Road. When authorities arrived, the garage was fully engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading to the house. Images show the home's garage completely destroyed and damage to the home's exterior.

Peltier said nobody was inside the home at the time of the fire as the family was on vacation. Authorities were able to find a family member who was out of town, and that family member is now on the scene inspecting the damage. Peltier said the damage to the home is estimated at around $300,000.

One firefighter suffered minor back injuries after falling down some stairs while battling the blaze. There was also no water supply in the area, so fire officials had to call in mutual aid from surrounding departments to help truck in water, Peltier said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, and officials aren't saying yet what caused the fire to start in the garage. Fire officials did manage to save the family's only pets, some fish, who survived the fire.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.