RFD responds to NE Rochester fire early Monday

(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Fire Department (RFD) responded to a fire in northeast Rochester early Monday morning.

According to RFD, the call came in just before 3:00 a.m. of a reported fire at the Oakridge Treatment Center, a residential men’s drug addiction treatment facility, located at 4800 48th St. NE.

RFD said as they responded no fire or smoke were visible, but staff and residents had evacuated. Staff reported a fire in a wall that they had tried to extinguish with a portable fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful.

RFD crews investigated and found a fire active in the chimney flue which had failed as light to moderate smoke had filled all levels of the building including the attic area.

RFD fire crews opened up the wall space around the chimney on all levels to confirm the fire had not spread which no further extension was found.

Six people were treated by Mayo Ambulance, but there was no immediate information on their condition.

Damage is estimated at $300,000.

The American Red Cross and The City of Rochester Emergency Management are working to assist with some of the displaced residents, however most are being transferred to another partner facility.

RFD said due to the high temperatures the buildings heating appliances generate and the heating systems complexity that not all areas of the chimney were accessible to fire crews and will be closely monitored for the next 24 hours or until the system completely cools.

RFD and Elgin Fire both had tankers on the scene. Mayo Clinic Ambulance and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office also assisted.