Staff report

RIVER FALLS – Five pets were able to escape a house fire Saturday, Oct. 1 in River Falls.

According to a news release from River Falls Fire Chief Steven Cash, the River Falls Fire Department responded to a structure fire with animals trapped inside at 9:08 p.m. Saturday at 251 Union St.

The first arriving unit arrived in three min utes and 16 seconds of the initial dispatch and observed visible smoke and flames coming from the second story floor. Mutual aid was immediately activated to bring in additional resources. The first arriving fire unit, with the assistance of River Falls Police Department, helped rescue three of the trapped pets. The two remaining pets were able to escape on their own when the doors were opened.

Fire crews made an aggressive ouensive

fire attack of the second story and were able to contain the fire to the floor of origin. No residents or animals were injured as a result of the fire. One firefighter reported an injury and was treated and released on-scene.

St. Croix County property records list the homeowner as Claire Janovec.

Fire crews cleared the scene and returned to service at 1:12 am. RFFD fire investigators were on scene investigating the origin and cause of the fire. The case is still under inves tigation.

The fire department responded with 17 per sonnel and four apparatus. Assisting agencies were United Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department, Roberts Fire Department, Hudson Fire Department, Prescott Fire Department, Spring Valley Fire Department, River Falls Police Department, Allina Ambulance, River Falls Electric and Water Departments, and the American Red Cross.