Historic Saint Paul House Near Cathedral Engulfed In Massive Blaze

SAINT PAUL, MN — A historic home on the 200 block of Dayton Avenue erupted in flames Tuesday, destroying much of the structure. Firefighters started to attack the blaze from inside the historic house, built in 1865, but had to be ordered out. Crews then shifted into a defensive position and fought the fire from the exterior due to the heavy blaze and deteriorating structural conditions.

The home is located just blocks from the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Heavy smoke continued to billow across the neighborhood in the early afternoon as passers-by stood and watched.

Most of the fire was completely extinguished by 1 p.m., though crews continued to hose water on the home.

The origin of the blaze is under investigation. No human injuries were reported, but two cats died in fire.

The fire began on the second level of the house and continued into the third, according to Zaccard. The second floor eventually caved.

Alida Purmalietis, whose parents own the home, helped them escape the blaze. “It’s a devastating fire,” Purmalietis told the Pioneer Press. "My dad spent his whole life working on this place," she added. "There’s a lot of history. The woodwork was irreplaceable."

Images via Saint Paul Fire Department