At approximately 3:28 p.m. yesterday afternoon (January 12th), the East Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 123 Venus Dr. NE. The First unit on scene reported smoke coming from soffits in the entryway of the residence. A 1¾ inch hand line was deployed for a fire attack, and the fire was brought under control in about seven minutes after arrival. The home was occupied by one adult male who made it out safely. The fire was contained to the entryway of the residence. The entryway sustained heavy fire damage, while the home received heavy smoke and heat damage throughout.
East Grand Forks Fire responded with seventeen personnel and seven fire apparatus. The East Grand Forks Police Department and Altru Ambulance assisted the fire department.
The cause of the fire was determined to be an overloaded electrical circuit that had several devices plugged into it, including a space heater.
The East Grand Forks Fire Department would like to remind everyone of the importance of keeping portable heaters three feet away from any combustible and to designate one electrical circuit to the space heater.
A video recounting the fire by Neil Carlson of iNewz.TV can be seen below-
