Police: 3 dead in South St. Paul house fire
Updated: 12:12 p.m. | Posted: 5:32 a.m.
Two young boys and their father died as a result of a house fire in South St. Paul on Tuesday evening.
Firefighters were called to the 300 block of 11th Avenue in South St. Paul on reports of a garage fire at about 9 p.m., according to South Metro Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Erickson.
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Firefighters entering the home encountered intense heat and smoke. They found the three victims on the second floor.
The 60-year-old man and his 2-year-old son were declared dead at the scene. Another 5-year-old son was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he was later pronounced dead.
Erickson said the children's mother was at work when the fire broke out.
Rachell Gerten lives across the street from the victims. She said the family has lived in the neighborhood for a couple years.
"The kids were always in the window saying hi, the dad walked the son to school every day, to the bus stop," Gerten said. "Nothing out of the ordinary. They were friendly, always outside in their garden."
The victim's names will be released following a medical examiner investigation.
"We continue our investigation," Erickson said. "That's the detailed examination of the fire scene, talking to neighbors to see what witness information we may be able to ascertain, all to find out what caused this fire."
The fire is being investigated by the South St. Paul Police Department and South Metro Fire Department with assistance from the state fire marshal.