|
|
Moorhead Fire Dept 111 12th St N Moorhead MN 56560
(218) 299-5432 |
|
 |
An elderly Moorhead couple who suffered life-threatening injuries in a house fire this evening were likely trying to escape, said Moorhead's fire chief.
Joel Hewitt said heavy smoke from the fire at 1311 3rd Ave. S. incapacitated the man and woman, who were rescued near the front porch.
Names of the victims were not released late this evening.
Emergency workers performed CPR on each victim and were able to get a pulse by the time the ambulance arrived at MeritCare Hospital, Hewitt said.
A condition report was not available from MeritCare officials, but Hewitt said they were likely in critical condition.
The fire, reported at 6:07 p.m., started in the rear of the home in the kitchen, Hewitt said. A cause was not immediately determined.
A state fire marshal was scheduled to arrive about 9:30 tonight and Hewitt said investigators would likely work late into the night.
Dozens of bystanders gathered near the scene, including Gail Magnan and her daughter Emily, 11, who live around the corner from the couple's street.
They just visited the couple while trick-or-treating on Sunday.
"They're just a sweet old couple," Gail Magnan said. "We need to go home and say prayers for these people."
Hewitt said at least one of the victims was more than 90 years old.
Magnan said the man used a walker.
Today's fire was the first significant blaze since Hewitt became chief of the Moorhead Fire Department in July.
Because it was a serious fire with injuries, all off-duty Moorhead firefighters were called to the scene, Hewitt said.
Two Fargo fire trucks also responded, one to the fire and the other to Moorhead's headquarter station to protect the rest of Moorhead, he said.
In all, five or six fire trucks and nearly 30 firefighters were at the scene of the fire, said Hewitt, adding the coordination went smoothly.
"This is what we train for day in and day out," Hewitt said.
Forum reporter Andrea Domaskin
contributed to this story.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590
|
Last modified: August 02, 2007 |
Elderly
couple seriously injured in Moorhead house fire