VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening.
Chief Chris Hearden with Vandnais Heights Fire said in a press release that four local fire departments were called to a fire in a townhome complex at around 5:40 on Saturday evening.
When crews arrived in the 1000 block of County Road D East, they saw fire and heavy smoke pouring from a townhome.
A neighbor told KARE 11's Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said he heard the kids screaming and then saw them pulled from the home.
"Tried my best to run in there... the fire, the smoke... don't know the blueprint, don't know the surroundings, couldn't see nothing so I got out of there," said Venjoseph Brown, obviously shaken. "I was no use... and there was still kids in there. If it was that bad on the outside, I could wonder what they was goin' through."
Officials confirmed two young children were pulled from the burning building by emergency crews. Two other victims, an adult and another child, were able to escape on their own. All four were taken to Regions Hospital and Hearden said their conditions are unknown at this time.
Engines from Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Maplewood and White Bear Lake worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out as of 7:15 p.m. Crews on scene noted that damage to the first floor of the townhome was extensive.
The Vadnais Heights Fire Department, Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team and the State Fire Marshall's Office are all investigating the cause of this fire.