Arson

On April 6, 2023, at approximately 2:11 p.m., the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received the report of a building fire. Stearns County Deputies, Upsala Fire Department, Freeport Fire Department, Holdingford Fire Department, and a MN DNR Conservation Officer responded to the scene located at 43985 248th Avenue in Krain Township. Upon arrival deputies found the residence to be fully engulfed. Deputies made contact with a female party identified as Jamie Morin, 40, of Wahpeton, North Dakota and she admitted to starting the fire. Morin was taken into custody for questioning and later arrested for 1st Degree Arson. The residence was owned by Brian Blommel, 52, of Freeport, and was considered a complete loss. The incident is being investigated by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.