In the early morning hours on Wednesday, Nov. 12, a Winona home burned to the ground with only the chimney left standing.
The Winona Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 4:45 a.m. The department sent three fire trucks and 15 firefighters to battle the blaze.
“When they arrived, it was fully involved,” Fire Chief Barrett Johnson said.
WFD remained on scene until 8:05 a.m. working to extinguish the fire, using approximately 5,000 gallons of water.
There were no injuries reported.
The home had no smoke detectors, but the resident woke up in time to escape.
American Red Cross representative Calbrina Woods stressed the importance of having smoke detectors installed in homes. Smoke detectors provide early warning that gives people precious time to escape safely.
According to the American Red Cross, smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area at minimum. For the best protection, interconnected smoke alarms should be installed in each bedroom and throughout the home so that when one sounds, they all sound.
Anyone in need of smoke detectors can reach out to Woods at 662-753-1659. The American Red Cross provides free smoke detectors and free installation to ensure every home in the community has this life-saving protection.
