St. Paul firefighters were called to the fire just after 10:30 p.m.
St. Paul firefighters battled a smoky two-alarm fire in a vacant home on Tuesday. According to St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard, the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Units were dispatched to 851 Marion St. at 10:34 p.m. and arrived minutes later to find fire showing from the first floor of a two-story dwelling. The intense flames melted the siding on the home on the exposure "Delta" side.
Crews from Engine 22 and Engine 18 deployed hoselines into the structure and to protect the exposure as additional crews searched the home. As crews checked for fire extension, heavy smoke was present and it was discovered that the fire had gotten hold of the voids.
Firefighters used saws to tear away several sections of exterior walls on the first and second floors as dense smoke pushed from all sides of the structure.
Another hoseline was brought to the second floor by ground ladder as firefighters found several additional pockets of fire growing through the voids.
A second alarm was called to bring additional resources. The temperature was hovering just below zero.
According to Zaccard, the interior of the home suffered extensive damage.
About 50 firefighters responded to the blaze and Zaccard said that no injuries were reported.
