Two transported with injuries as blaze kept to apartment of origin

By Joseph Back

A fire early Saturday at Newport Ponds Apartments in the 1600 block of 10th Avenue in Newport, has resulted in two people being transported for minor injuries.

Responding firefighters were able to bring the fire under control, largely keeping it to the apartment of origin, with two units badly damaged in the early morning blaze.

“The apartment of origin was second floor,” Newport Fire Chief Steve Wiley said Monday of the Saturday fire subject to an ongoing investigation. While not suspicious, the fire’s location meant it was turned over to the State Fire Marshall.

“Fires like this are generally turned over to the State Fire Marshall,” Wiley shared, stating that he couldn’t comment on the still ongoing investigation into the fire’s origin. The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire before dawn Saturday, the call coming in at approximately 4:30 a.m. The apartment’s occupant jumped off the second story and was transported to a hospital, Wiley said, along with another resident. Responding fire departments outside of Newport included St. Paul Park Fire, Cottage Grove Fire and EMS along with Woodbury Fire.