The Ellendale Fire Department received the call at 1:53 a.m. from Misgen, who reported he had encountered smoke when he opened the door to his home at 403 5th Ave W. Firemen responded and extinguished a fire in the kitchen area of the home. The fire left the kitchen cupboards and countertops charred and black.
The firemen removed both the kitchen stove and microwave from the home. Once they opened the windows and ventilated the home, they felt the home was safe for the family to return. But, the smell in the home was unbearable, so Mark and Sara joined their children, who were at the home of Mark’s mother, Connie Evenson of Ellendale.
Two hours later, a passerby happened to notice the Misgen home, located on Hwy. 30, was on fire. At 3:53 a.m., authorities were again notified and the Ellendale Fire Department returned to the Misgen home to extinquish the fire. The firemen quickly connected their fire hose to the nearest fire hydrant, and set up a drop tank for water. The Ellendale firemen called for mutualaid from the Geneva and New Richland Fire departments. They also set up drop tanks, and emptied their tankers. The firemen worked hard for many hours on Wednesday morning to extinguish the fire that had consumed the Misgen home. The fire department tankers were kept busy hauling water throughout the early morning.
The Geneva tanker was brought back to Geneva to refill several times throughout the morning as well. The Hollandale Fire Department was also called upon to bring their trailer of air tanks.
The Red Cross was called in to assist, and the Misgen family was sent to a hotel in Owatonna on Wednesday and Thursday nights, until other arrangements could be made.
An unwanted fire can be devastating at any time, especially on a cold winter night in December. The fire has been a tragedy for the Misgen family.
Karen Lundberg, who has become a family friend, appeared on television last week asking people to offer help and assistance for the Misgen family for clothing and toys for the children.
Fortunately, most things can be replaced; but people can't.
The Steele County Sheriff's office and the State Fire Marshall are continuing to investigate the fire.
