Ladder Rescue in Rochester, Minn

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) — Rochester firefighters rescued a man from an apartment at a group residential housing facility early Sunday morning. Investigators said that man is OK, but is now left homeless after the fire destroyed his home.

The fire broke out about 4:15 a.m. Sunday at the Reza House at 1623 4th St. NW. Rochester Fire Department Deputy Chief Vance Swisher said firefighters found a man on the roof signaling for help. Firefighters used a ladder to rescue that man, while other residents went into the building to extinguish the fire. The entire building was evacuated, and residents were not allowed to return until at least Sunday afternoon.

Swisher said the fire caused an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 including heavy smoke damage to the second floor and water damage to the first floor.

“Fire marshals are investigating that, trying to identify what the cause of the fire was. They were able to identify the area of the origin. Part of that will also be discussing the situation with the individual that was residing in that room to see if we can piece together what happened and why this fire occurred,” said Swisher.

Red Cross is assisting the man who lost his apartment.

No one was hurt in the fire.

Olmsted County Community Services Director Paul Fleissner said Reza House provides room and board for people who have a physical or mental health disability or chemical dependency. Room and board payments are funded via Department of Human Services’ Group Residential Housing funds and/or resident’s personal funds.

“Reza House has played a crucial role in providing housing to those with mental illness and/or chemical dependency issues,” Fleissner said in a statement. “They have provided housing to those who are unable to find alternate housing and/or live on their own due to their disability.”

Fleissner said the Reza House first received its first board and lodge license as well as Group Residential Housing agreement in July, 2009. He said the facility had proactively maintained its contract and board and lodge license since that time.

About Author

countyfiretactics

Curt Isakson is a 35 year veteran of the fire service. Curt is currently a Battalion Chief for Escambia County Fire Rescue. Previously worked 9 years with the Pensacola Fire Department where he was assigned as the Company Officer on Rescue 31. Curt’s fire service experiences started at a young age as a Junior firefighter with the Midway Fire Protection District and rose through the ranks to Captain. He has worked in volunteer, career, and combination departments.

Curt has held all ranks up to Battalion Chief and been assigned to operations, training, inspections, and was Chief of Special Operations for 7 years. Curt owns and operates County Fire Tactics that covers a very diverse range of fire service topics, as well as Firefighter Rescues, a site that documents rescues made by firefighters around the country.

He has annual contracts with numerous departments to provide standardized monthly training for these departments that respond daily together under an automatic aid agreement. Curt teaches nationally to include; FDIC, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, Orlando Fire Conference, Atlanta Fire Conference, Bowling Green State University, and owns/operates the annual HROC, COBC, WOTF, CFT ODP on Pensacola Beach. He is a Florida Certified Fire Officer, Instructor, Inspector, Arson, and FLUSAR.

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