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St. Paul Fire Department space heater warning
Authorities are warning the public to be aware of the fire hazard posed by space heaters following a fatal fire in the city.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A man is dead after a fire in St. Paul that also left four people displaced.
The St. Paul Fire Department is now warning the public about the potential dangers of space heaters after one was located where the fire started.
The full news conference can be viewed above.
Fatal St. Paul fire
Big picture view:
St. Paul firefighters responded to the 400 block of Cook Avenue East at about 12:44 a.m. on Thursday for reports of a home on fire.
They then found "heavy fire conditions on the porch and first floor interior," according to a news release from the St. Paul Fire Department.
After getting the fire under control, crews then extracted a man from the second-floor bathroom of the home.
The man was reportedly unconscious on the way to the hospital as medics tried to save him. Despite life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The fire also displaced three men and one woman, who are now being helped by the Red Cross, according to the St. Paul Fire Department.
Space heater dangers:
Investigators say a space heater was found near where the fire started, but the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
"As the temperatures get colder, portable heaters are meant to be meant to provide comfort, but if they're not used correctly, they can quickly turn deadly," said St. Paul Assistant Fire Chief Jeramiah Melquist. "A few simple steps can prevent tragedy. When you're using a portable heater, there should not be anything within three feet that's combustible. Blankets, furniture, clothing, curtains. All can ignite when a space heaters are left unattended for a long period of time."
Dig deeper:
The St. Paul Fire Department said the death cannot officially be ruled a fire fatality until all investigations are complete.
St. Paul had a total of five fire fatalities so far in 2025. The average in the city is three per year.
The Source: This story uses information shared by the St. Paul Fire Department.