By Lisa Baumann
The Pine Journal
CLOQUET, Minn. — A two-story apartment building was extensively damaged by fire overnight Tuesday, leaving 20 people without a home in Cloquet.
A fire at the Maplewood Apartments, 1318 18th St., was reported at 11:24 p.m. Tuesday. According to the Cloquet Fire Department, the attic and roof area was fully engulfed when they arrived.
The fire started in a second-floor apartment where a 13-year-old girl was babysitting a 3-year-old, according to Cloquet Police. The 3-year-old may have been playing with a candle in a bedroom before the fire started, Cloquet Detective Darrin Berg said. The babysitter reportedly smelled smoke, found a bed on fire and left the apartment with the girl.
Another resident called 911 and it appeared as though other residents had attempted to put out the fire with extinguishers that were in the building, Cloquet firefighters said.
All of the residents were evacuated from the building by Cloquet and Fond du Lac police officers and Carlton County Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters rescued a cat from one of the apartments. None of the residents were injured.
Kerri Dunn was one of the residents who found out about the fire when officers pounded on her door.
“I wasn’t sure what was going on and first thought maybe it was some funny business,” she said.
When she opened the door to hear the building was on fire, Dunn ran to gather up her sleeping sons, Nolan, 5, and Jackson, 3, their blankets and her cell phone before leaving the apartment.
“I called my sister who lives about six blocks away and she was here in no time,” she said.
Officials at Black Bear Casino Resort sent a shuttle bus to the scene of the fire and took residents back to their hotel, where many are staying through Friday. The American Red Cross and Salvation Army were also assisting the 20 residents on Wednesday.
More than two dozen firefighters fought the blaze through the night. The fire spread into the attic space, destroying much of the building’s roof. Ceilings and insulation collapsed into many of the second-floor apartments.
“I think the building will be a total loss,” Fire Chief Jim Langenbrunner said.
Firefighters also helped Berg, who was pinned to the floor in the building after a portion of ceiling fell on him. Berg was investigating a rumor that a methamphetamine lab might be in the building.
“I think my air tank hooked a cable and that’s the last I remember,” he said. “The next thing I knew I was in the ambulance.”
No evidence of a meth lab was found and Berg was taken to Community Memorial Hospital to be checked out. Other than a bruise on the forehead and a stiff neck he seemed to be fine, and was back on duty Wednesday morning.
“I should have been more aware,” he said. “It was totally my fault that it happened.”
Dunn stayed with her sister overnight and came back to the apartment building after dropping Nolan at school Wednesday morning. She was pleased to see her apartment mostly intact. She had come to the site hoping to retrieve her car keys, purse and one item she was reluctant to bother firefighters about -- one of Nolan’s stuffed animals.
“He was very upset last night without it,” Dunn said.
When Cloquet Area Fire District Division Chief Ken Klatt returned with the toy, Jackson broke into a huge smile and said he was happy to get it back for his brother.
The State Fire Marshal was on the scene investigating the cause of the fire Wednesday morning and although residents were not allowed back in the building, firefighters continued to go into some of the apartments to salvage items for them.
“I feel better just getting some of my things,” Dunn said.
Copyright 2009 The Pine Journal