On February 27, 2021 at approximately 11:16 PM, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and Elrosa Fire Department were dispatched to a house fire in the 36000 block of County Road 14 in Spring Hill Township. The address is approximately two miles west of Spring Hill. The fire had been noticed by passersby who knocked on the doors of the residence and called 911.
Upon arrival, deputies noticed flames coming from the roof of the residence. Deputies attempted to extinguish some of the flames at the roof line but quickly noticed that that the fire had spread throughout the interior. The homeowners Stanley Heinen, 66 and RuthAnn Heinen, 64, both of Melrose, were not home at the time of the fire. The damage amount to the residence is unknown but is believed to be significant. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The owners had recently purchased the home and were planning on conducting renovations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Elrosa Fire, Lake Henry Fire, Melrose Ambulance, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshall Office.