Crime & Safety

Chief: Electric Frying Pan Caused Northfield House Fire

No one was home at 504 Fourth St. E. when the fire broke out just before 10 a.m.

Northfield Fire Chief Gerry Franek said an electric frying pan was the cause of a house fire Sunday morning.

No one was home at 504 Fourth St. E. when the fire broke out just before 10 a.m. Franek believes the frying pan wasn't turned off after it was used.

According to Rice County property records, the 1,606 square-foot home has three bedrooms and was built in 1900; Lisa Ebert is listed as the owner. 

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Franek said the fire got into the walls of the home and because of how the house was built, the fire quickly spread to all levels of the home, including the attic. Firefighters had to cut into the exterior of the home to help vent.

Franek said the home is uninhabitable, but many of the homeowner's items are salvageable.

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Firefighters arrived on scene within five minutes of the call, Franek said, and had the fire under control around 11:30 a.m. With the fire spread out as much as it was, Franek called for backup from the Randolph Fire Department to provide firefighters rest.

The scene was cleared around 1 p.m. and the Red Cross was called in to help.

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