The Manitowoc Fire Rescue Department responded to a structure fire early this morning in the 1200 block of South 13th Street.
Crews were dispatched at 12:30 AM, and began battling the blaze, which was on the second floor of the two-family residential property. According to a report from Fire Chief Todd Blaser, all occupants of the residence self-evacuated prior to the first arriving engine company.
The initial attack crew was met with heavy black smoke and high heat condition as they searched for the origin of the fire, which was determined to be in the living room of the apartment.
The fire was brought under control in approximately fifteen minutes.
The cause is still under investigation, and a damage estimate has not yet. been determined.
Blaser stressed the importance of having a working smoke detector, saying, “A working smoke detector can assist with providing your family with valuable time to escape the hazards of a fire. A smoke detector is not a nuisance but a lifesaving tool.”
