Luverne apartment blaze leaves 23 people in limbo

• Country View fire

This submitted photo shows the damage done to the top floor of Country View Apartments, 900 E. Dodge St., in Luverne following an early morning fire on Friday.
• Front view

Twenty-three people were displaced by an early Friday morning fire at the Country View Apartment building, 900 E. Dodge St., Luverne. (Photo submitted by Scott Adams)

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LUVERNE — Monetary contributions and donations of household items are being collected for 23 individuals displaced following an early Friday morning apartment fire in Luverne.

Scott Adams, co-owner of Cragoe Realty, which manages Country View Apartments, said everything from furniture to dishes, bedding and clothing are being accepted. People who would like to donate are asked to contact Cragoe Realty, (507) 283-2647, with items.

“We have a facility set up where we can stage that stuff, and we can contact the apartment tenants,” Adams said.

Monetary donations are being collected at all three of Luverne’s banks, Exchange State Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank and Minnwest Bank.

A fire on the third floor of the three-story, 12-unit apartment building at 900 E. Dodge St., was reported at 2:42 a.m. Friday, according to Rock County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Wieneke. Deputies were the first to arrive on the scene and made sure everyone was out of the building and accounted for as firefighters arrived.

Luverne Fire Chief Dan Nath said the fire had extended into the roof area by the time firefighters reached the scene. High winds worked to fuel the flames.

“We had wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour that night. The combination of the wind and the heavy amount of flame … did a very good job of fueling the fire into the roof,” Nath said on Monday. Mutual aid was requested from Hills, Beaver Creek and Magnolia fire departments — all providing water and manpower to battle the blaze.

“The Rock County Sheriff’s Office did a fantastic job of making sure we got everyone out OK and there wasn’t anyone missing,” Nath said.

Two individuals rescued from the building were assessed by emergency personnel on scene for smoke inhalation.

Nath said firefighters remained on the scene through the 7 a.m. hour Friday, and were called back around 8:30 a.m. for some sparks that rekindled.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The State Fire Marshal was on the scene on Friday, and Nath anticipates a determination will be made within a couple of weeks.

“We’ve got so much insulation, ceiling and roof, and all those different layers have to be sifted through,” Nath said.

Adams said the top floor is a total loss, and it’s not yet known if the lower floors can be salvaged. Nath said there was water damage to all three floors, with fire damage contained to the third and second floors.

The building contained a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. There were three families and several individuals displaced by the fire.

The Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross was on the scene Friday and provided temporary housing to those in need.

“We have been able to help four or five with alternative living arrangements,” Adams said. “There are more that are going to need to find a house to rent.”

Adams offered a “huge thank-you” to the sheriff’s department, the firefighters and the Red Cross.

April Kruger, emergency services director with the Southwest Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross, said four families were assisted with temporary lodging, with the rest finding a place to stay with family or friends.

The Red Cross chapter, based in Worthington, serves five counties, including Rock.

While the Luverne banks are collecting donations for the victims of Friday morning’s fire, the American Red Cross also continues to seek monetary donations.

“We’re definitely in need of monetary donations,” said the Red Cross’ Bob Meyer. “If clothing was something our clients needed as a result of the fire, we would give them a voucher and they can go to any store they wish to get the correct size, type and color. It’s part of the recovery process for these folks. We give them some means to start their own recovery process.”

Donations may be sent to the Southwest Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross, 716 Oxford St., Suite 2, Worthington.

Daily Globe Reporter Julie Buntjer may be reached at 376-7330.

Tags: news, fire, luverne