Body Found In Fire At St. Charles Downtown Motel

ST. CHARLES, Minn. (WCCO) -- Firefighters in St. Charles, east of Rochester, are reportedly back on the scene of a fatal motel fire a fire they thought they had put out late Thursday night.

"Our life, basically went up in smoke," said motel owner Lisa Johnson as she tearfully watched part of her motel in St. Charles burn while talking with WCCO Radio Friday morning, hours after the initial fatal fire was put out at about 11 p.m. Thursday. She said for some reason or another, the smoldering remnants re-ignited.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Chris Simon Reports

Firefighters had been investigating the initial fire that had been isolated to one room, and where the body of one of the guests was found.

"The fire started up again at 5 o'clock this morning," she said. "The best I can tell you is that we are here now, watching more of it burn down," said Johnson.

But Johnson said all of the remaining guests, including several children and family pets, have been safely evacuated. The American Red Cross is helping them find shelter. At this point, the cause of the fire remains unknown.