Early Morning Fire Destroys St. Paul Home

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An early morning fire has destroyed a house in St. Paul, Minn. The homeowners were on vacation in Florida at the time.

The fire was reported just before 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

When firefighters got there, the house was full of fire -- and then the cold weather slowed fire crews down.

"With the weather, the smoke was right off the street," said Dino Guerin, district fire chief. "We couldn't see coming in for about a block, which made it difficult to assess what house was on fire."

Guerin said it took about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. Crews had to battle lines freezing up in the frigid conditions, as well.

An MTC bus was brought in so firefighters could take turns warming up.

No one was injured in the fire.

The cause is still under investigation.