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DULUTH – A fire at a Central Hillside medical equipment business sent smoke billowing through the neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.
The Duluth Fire Department responded to a fire at Lake Superior Medical Equipment, 522 E. Fourth St., that destroyed one of the business’s vans and a stairwell at the back of the building. At 6:30 p.m., firefighters were on the roof of the building and firefighters on the ground were spraying water on the back of the building.
Dan Williamson/Duluth News Tribune
Fire Chief Shawn Cresage said the department did not know how or where the fire started around 6:15 p.m., but it likely burned in the basement of the medical supply store. A civilian helped evacuate the four apartments above the store, he said.
“We really haven’t done any investigation yet. We’re still trying to get the fire under control right now,” Krizaj said.
It was not known if the fire had spread to neighboring buildings that share walls with the burned building, as firefighters were working to check into those businesses, Krizage said.
News Tribune reporters at the scene heard explosions or “pops” and “loud noises” from inside the building.
The business offers oxygen concentrators among other products.
A rally of about 500 Essentia nurses and their supporters had gathered in the parking lot behind the business and down the street — near the Ronald McDonald House — when smoke billowed over the crowd.
Cresage said someone at the parade smelled smoke and called 911.
Most of the rally moved to St. Luke’s as scheduled.
This is a developing story; Check back for updates.
Dan Williamson/Duluth News Tribune
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