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Motel fire victim identified

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Dec 7, 2012 at 12:54 pm

ST. CHARLES, Minn. (KNSI) Authorities say the man who died in a fire at a St. Charles motel was from South Dakota.

Police say 47-year-old Vincent Edward Wright, of Avon, S.D., had checked into the Downtown Motel earlier Thursday and was the only one registered to the room. Three other motel guests escaped unharmed when fire broke out about 11 p.m.

St. Charles Fire Chief Lyle Peterson says flames were "through the roof and out the windows" when firefighters arrived. Fire crews left the scene about 3:30 a.m. Friday.

Firefighters were called back about an hour later when the fire reignited. Peterson says five of the motel's 10 rooms were severely damaged or destroyed. The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.