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Jun 29, 2009 6:41 pm US/Central
Fire Marshal: St. Paul Blaze Started By Fireworks
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Fire investigators said the fire started in the front entryway on the first floor and spread through the house from there.
CBS
Ten people, including six children, were displaced from their home when it went up in flames in St. Paul early Monday morning.
The St. Paul Fire Marshal said the fire was caused by the use of legal fireworks in the front entryway, where the fire began before spreading to the second and third floors at about 1 a.m.
Smoke detectors went off and all got out safely. The duplex is located at 1935 Roblyn Avenue just west of Snelling Avenue.
"We had a smell come in the window. We couldn't figure out what it was. Then we figure, oh they're doing fireworks, it was sulfur," said a neighbor's friend Julie Peterson. "The neighbors heard fireworks. Then about 10, 15 minutes later they saw the flames."
And remnants of those legal fireworks litter the yard.
"This emits showers or sparks, so this is a legal one. You set it on the ground and it showers sparks; it's a fountain," said St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard.
Investigators say those sparks got into the wall when teenagers lit the fireworks in the front porch igniting this fire.
The fire marshal said the boys used pots of water to try to put the flames out while neighbors called 911.
Fire quickly spread through the home with the help of strong winds.
"It went fast, you couldn't believe how quick it went. And right away I thought it had to be the fireworks," said Peterson.
Peterson and her friend who lives next door cared for the children for several hour until the Red Cross arrived.
"All those kids were home alone. We felt bad for the kids. Some were pretty young," said Peterson, who believes some were as young as 4-years-old.
"The little ones were scared," said Peterson.
That's understandable after seeing the fire gutted second floor where they were before the fire started.
"The area where the fire started is, you can see where the fire it raced up the hollow wall into the second story," said Zaccard. "A few moments of fun with fireworks left nine people homeless this morning."
According to fire investigators, the children's mother says her 21-year-old daughter was with the younger kids but firefighters never spoke to her.
Police say it is not illegal though for a teenager to stay alone with young children even overnight.
The fire marshal says the fire caused an estimated $70,000 in damage.
Zaccard said just because fireworks are legal don't think they're safe. He also said children, even teenagers, should always have adult supervision when lighting fireworks.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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