Family escapes burning home in Roseland

ROSELAND - Firefighters from five area departments spent more than four hours fighting a house fire Monday afternoon.

Ben Vlaminck, assistant chief of the Blomkest Fire Department, said the fire appeared to be accidental, and the cause is still under investigation. Blomkest was the primary department at the scene.

The house on 194th Avenue Southwest just off state Highway 7 in Roseland was a total loss.

The family was unaware of the fire before a neighbor saw flames coming out of the back of the house in the early afternoon and pounded on the door, Vlaminck said.

"They work nights, so they were sleeping," he said, and the warning allowed two adults, two children and the family dog to get out of the house safely.

When Blomkest firefighters arrived at the house, flames were coming through the roof, Vlaminck said.

"My biggest concern at that point was making sure everyone was out," he said. "Next get some water on (the fire) and knock it down, and we need to make sure we're protecting nearby structures."

A neighbor's garage was about three feet away from the burning house, he said, but the only damage it received was some melted siding.

The Blomkest, Willmar, Prinsburg, Lake Lillian and Danube fire departments responded to the fire along with the Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad to provide air supply and the Raymond Ambulance.

There were no injuries among residents or first responders, Vlaminck said.

As it was a warm day, he called for enough assistance to allow for a rotation of fire crews, "so no one had to get heat exhaustion," Vlaminck said.

1/4: Erica Dischino / Tribune A firefighter uses a hose to extinguish a fire Monday afternoon at a house on 194th Avenue in Roseland. Multiple fire departments, including Willmar, Prinsburg and Raymond, responded to the scene.

2/4: Erica Dischino / Tribune A fire destroyed a house Monday afternoon on 194th Avenue Southwest in Roseland. A neighbor alerted the family, and they and their dog all escaped safely.

3/4: Erica Dischino / Tribune Firefighters work together to man the hose Monday afternoon a house fire on 194th Avenue Southwest in Roseland. No one was injured, but the home was destroyed.

4/4: Erica Dischino / Tribune A fire destroyed a house Monday afternoon on 194th Avenue in Roseland. Multiple fire departments, including Willmar, Prinsburg and Raymond, responded to the scene.