Early Morning Fire Damages New York Mills Home, Occupants Escape Safely

A fire that broke out before dawn Thursday destroyed an attached garage and heavily damaged a home at 106 N Walker Avenue in New York Mills, though all occupants escaped without injury.

Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office dispatchers received the emergency call at approximately 4:29 a.m. on March 12. The blaze began in the attached garage before spreading into the house. By the time crews from the New York Mills and Perham fire departments extinguished the fire, the garage was a total loss and the home had sustained significant damage.

Residents were able to evacuate safely, and no injuries were reported, according to a news release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office and the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office are jointly investigating the incident, though authorities say the fire is not believed to be suspicious in nature.

The New York Mills blaze was the second structure fire in Otter Tail County within roughly 14 hours. On Wednesday afternoon, March 11, a fire broke out at a residence on County Highway 50 in rural Deer Creek, reported around 2:44 p.m. Crews from the Deer Creek and Henning fire departments contained that fire to an upstairs bedroom, with minor smoke damage to other areas of the home. No injuries were reported there either, and that fire is also considered non-suspicious. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating both incidents.