A large structure fire in Elk Point destroyed a row of townhouses on Friday (April 27), starting at about 4:30 p.m.
Local resident Sherida Germain says she was on scene about 10 minutes after the fire started, and described it as being "very devastating to see."
"We got there about 10 minutes after the fire started, it was hectic and lots of panic. We were knocking on doors and trying to break into some of the places to make sure everyone had gotten out and to look for pets."
Fire crews from Elk Point and St. Paul responded to the blaze.
In March, the St. Paul Journal did a story about the Elk Point Fire Department doing a drive for more members. While the situation had been improving, the department was still seeking additional members to join its ranks.
With 27 members on the books in late March, only 17 of them were active members and, and of those, only about three of them would be available to immediately respond to a week-day emergency, Elk Point Fire Chief Lyle Frisby said, at the time.
More to come...
