Originally published 4:48 a.m. January 30th, 2025
Updated 10:36 a.m. January 30th, 2025
(KNSI) – An investigation is underway to determine what caused a fire Thursday morning in a commercial building on St. Cloud’s east side.
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Jake Judd/KNSI News
St. Cloud Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Tony Lorenz tells KNSI News that the call came in around 1:00 for a working structure fire at 424 East St. Germain Street. They arrived to find heavy flames on the second floor and coming out of multiple windows. They searched the building and didn’t find anyone inside.
Lorenz explained fire departments from Sauk Rapids and Sartell were called in due to the building construction and the age of the construction in particular. “That always gives us a little bit of cause for concern, so more hands on the scene to help us out. We’ve always worked really closely with them, so they’re incredibly helpful for us.”
The investigation is in its early stages, and the point of origin is unclear. There are residential units above the businesses on that side of the block, and Lorenz wasn’t immediately certain whether anyone was living there. City officials have deemed the entire building uninhabitable.
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Jake Judd/KNSI News
Part of the danger of fighting fires in the winter is that it gets icy around the scene with all the water going everywhere, and they try to get that contained as best they can. No firefighters were hurt, but drivers should know that the intersection at East St. Germain and Wilson Avenue may be a bit slick once it opens back up.
Lorenz didn’t have a timetable for when that would happen. As of 8:30 Thursday morning, East St. Germain Street between Riverside and Lincoln Avenue remains closed.
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