By Edie Grossfield and Janice Gregorson
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
Police and fire investigators returned to a southwest Rochester home at daybreak today to try to figure out what caused a fire that sent a woman to the hospital.
Amy Lechner, 29, was taken to Saint Marys Hospital by ambulance for treatment of smoke inhalation. Her condition was not available this morning.
The cause of the fire at 908 17th Ave. S.W., remains under investigation, said Battalion Chief Rick Lovett.
ADVERTISEMENT
Crews responded to a call at 8:45 p.m. Sunday and found heavy smoke and flames in the house. Lovett said the fire started in an upstairs bedroom and that fire damage was mostly confined to that room. However, there was heavy smoke damage throughout the house. Lechner lives in the main part of the house, and a man rents a lower-level apartment.
Lovett said both of them were outside when firefighters arrived. Lechner was "covered in soot, laying on the ground," police said.
"We are still piecing it all together," Lovett said this morning.
Fire Marshal Vance Swisher was on the scene for about four hours Sunday night and returned this morning. Red Cross assisted in locating temporary housing for the displaced tenants.
Staff writer Laura Gossman contributed to this story.
