Five family members evacuated safely from a fire that broke out Nov. 5 in their New Munich residence, the Stearns County Sheriff’s office reported.
On Nov. 5, at approximately 11:53 p.m., Stearns County Emergency Communications Center was advised of a fire at the address at 250 Liberty Street in New Munich. Stearns County Deputies alongside New Munich Fire and Melrose Ambulance responded to the incident location.
Upon arrival Stearns County Deputies located a man with a garden hose extinguishing the fire on his front porch and inside of his residence. The male was identified as Corey Pirttila, 35, of New Munich. He told deputies they had a heater on the floor in the kitchen facing the direction of some clothing. He said he believed due to the direct heat on the clothing, the clothing articles started on fire. Pirttila told deputies he thought he put the fire out and had placed the basket of clothing onto their porch. Pirttila went to bed a short time after and later woke up and saw heavy smoke throughout their home. Pirttila grabbed a garden hose and put out most of the fire and New Munich Fire arrived and took over. Pirttila, Breanna Rivera, 34, of New Munich, and three children were inside the residence when the fire started. They all safely evacuated from the residence and sustained no injuries.
