By Talia McWright
Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Firefighters who responded to a garage fire early Thursday in the Battle Creek neighborhood found three teenagers outside the home, and they said everyone was out, but someone had been left unaccounted for, according to the St. Paul Fire Department .
Fire crews arrived about 2:54 a.m. at a house covered in heavy smoke and flames on the 10 block of Nelson Street, according to a press release. After quickly extinguishing the fire and searching all levels, firefighters found an unconscious man in the basement.
He was taken from the home, transferred to St. Paul Fire EMS, then taken to a hospital.
The man was the father of the three teenagers, according to Deputy Chief Jamie Smith. The teens woke up their sleeping father to evacuate, but he apparently collapsed on his way out. They initially reported that everyone was out of the home when firefighters arrived.
The man was in critical condition at the time of transport; no update on his condition was available Thursday afternoon, according to the St. Paul Fire Department.
Initial investigation determined that the fire started in a tucked-under garage of the two-story residence.
No additional people were found inside the home and no firefighters were injured.
The case serves as a reminder of the benefit of having a household fire plan.
“We encourage everyone to have working and properly placed smoke detectors,” Smith said. “Have an exit plan in case of a fire and have a safe, pre-planned meeting location once outside to verify everyone has made it out.
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