Video: Tankers Needed to Control Lake Elmo House Fire

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

This story was updated and new photos and video were added Tuesday morning.

May 9 – Firefighters from two states battled a late night house fire in a Lake Elmo cul-de-sac on Monday.

Firefighters were called to 5757 Highlands Ct. N. around 10:30 p.m., according to Lake Elmo Fire Chief Greg Malmquist.

A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy arrived and reported flames and smoke showing from the two-story home, which was set back several hundred feet from the road. The lone occupant had evacuated when the deputy arrived.

After a quick size-up, which showed flames engulfing the entire back of the home, he ordered a defensive attack.

The area was not equipped with hydrants, so water tankers were called into to help firefighters tackle the flames. Tankers came from: Bayport, Hudson, Lower St. Croix Valley, Mahtomedi, Maplewood North St. Paul and Oakdale.

Two drop tank sites were set up in the street in front of the home. The tankers were replenished up at Oakdale Station 1 on Helmo, where Oakdale firefighters had two fill sites.

Firefighters used to aerial master streams to tame the raging fire. Lake Elmo’s was set up in the driveway on the D-side and one from Oakdale in the driveway of the home.

Malmquist said that neighbors were concerned that the fire would spread to a nearby home and early efforts focused on saving that structure.

The fire was under control around 1 a.m.

About 75 firefighters were called to the scene and the Salvation Army was called in to provide them with relief supplies.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal was expected to begin it’s investigation early Tuesday morning.

Woodbury fire crews were called to cover Lake Elmo stations.