This story has been updated.
Fire broke out in a structure on the 9000 block of Union Hill Boulevard in Belle Plaine Township just outside of the city of Belle Plaine Tuesday morning, Dec. 12.
Belle Plaine firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 10:30 a.m. White smoke was reportedly pouring out of the building but no flames were detected, according to dispatchers. While firefighters worked to quell the fire, others tried to account for the known inhabitant of the building. There was nobody home at the time of the fire, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office and there were no injuries reported, according to Sheriff Luke Hennen.
The fire started in the basement of the 110-year-old house. Belle Plaine Fire Chief Steve Otto said the fire likely had as much as a two hour head start before the smoke was noticed by passersby on County Road 7. Otto said the fire was so involved and intense by the time firefighters arrived they were unable to enter the structure.
"It was burning through the main floor," he said. "The fire had such a head start, it was a defensive attack."
Firefighters and the state fire marshall were unable to gain access to the basement. By the time firefighters and the state fire marshal left Tuesday night, the basement had about 9 feet of water in it, Otto said.
"We'll probably never know fore sure what started it," he said, adding the house was a total loss.
Firefighters from Jordan, New Prague, Shakopee, Henderson and Cologne fire departments were called to help at the scene. Victoria firefighters helped with rehabilitation of firefighters fighting the blaze and Carver fighters covered the Belle Plaine station in case of calls for service.
Thursday morning, Dec. 14, the charred remains of the house reignited. Belle Plaine and Jordan firefighters spent a couple hours at the site taking care of the blaze.
"The house was a total loss before this morning," Otto said.
New Prague firefighters were called to the rural site at 11:01 a.m. for manpower and water. They cleared the site at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, said Steve Rynda, NP's fire chief.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Firefighters respond to fire in Belle Plaine Township
