ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – St. Paul fire crews put out an apartment complex fire and successfully resuscitated a cat on Tuesday afternoon. Two victims rescued by firefighters were taken to Regions Hospital and two more were treated for smoke inhalation on-scene. The St. Paul Fire Department confirmed there were no fatalities.
Crews responded to the complex on 538 St. Peter Street just east of the Minnesota Historical Society after 5 p.m. They were putting out hot spots by 5:30. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but St. Paul Fire Chief Tim Butler confirmed it started in the second floor apartment.
Joseph Aitkin and Anthony Wilhem tried to help their elderly neighbor Greg Jones, who lives on the second floor, but the flames and smoke forced them to retreat. Within minutes, firefighters showed up, rescued Jones and one other person trapped inside. Both are in serious condition at Regions Hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.
One firefighter suffered a minor eye injury. Butler added the department has had fire and medical emergencies at the complex before, which helped them navigate the building.
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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