We are part of The Trust Project.
WILLMAR — A four-plex apartment building in southeast Willmar was heavily damaged by fire and smoke Wednesday afternoon.
No one was injured, and a cat was rescued, according to a news release.
The Willmar Fire Department was called to the building in the 2400 block of Fourth Avenue Southeast about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
While on the way to the scene, the department was told that heavy black smoke was coming from a clothes dryer and out the door of the building.
When the department arrived, the smoke was getting thicker, and the fire appeared to have spread beyond the dryer, according to the news release from Fire Chief Frank Hanson.
ADVERTISEMENT
Residents said that everyone was out of the building, but a cat was missing somewhere inside.
The fire had spread to other areas of the building through void spaces between the two floors, and it was difficult to reach, according to the release.
The department requested mutual aid from several other departments to assist with staffing. Fire crews were at the scene until about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The apartment building and its contents were heavily damaged by smoke and fire.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Willmar Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshals Division.
CentraCare Emergency Medical Services-Willmar, Willmar Municipal Utilities, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division and the Pennock, Kandiyohi, and Spicer fire departments also responded to the scene.
