Man dies following Oct. 17 house fire in St. Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood

A man critically injured in an Oct. 17 house fire in the Battle Creek neighborhood has died of his injuries, St. Paul Fire Department officials said Friday.

His death marks the eighth death that is connected to fires this year in the city, making 2024 “one the deadliest years in history” for fire fatalities, the officials said. Four of the deaths were young siblings who perished in a January house fire on the East Side.

Shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 17, St. Paul fire crews responded to a blaze in the 10 block of Nelson Street that was later found to have originated in a tuck-under garage at the house. When crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage of the two-story home.

Three teenagers outside said that everyone was out. But after firefighters extinguished the flames and were searching the house, they found the teens’ father unconscious in the basement. He was pulled from the home and medics began lifesaving measures as they transported him to a hospital in critical condition.

Authorities later said that the teens woke up their sleeping father to evacuate, but he apparently collapsed on his way out.

“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the victim during this profoundly difficult time. Every life lost is a painful reminder of the dangers fire can bring,” fire officials said in a Friday statement announcing the death of the man, who hasn’t been officially identified.

The fire was ruled accidental and determined to have started in the engine compartment of a vehicle parked in the garage.

“Smoke detectors awoke the household, allowing several others to escape safely. The adult male was unable to make it out in time,” the officials said. “As always, this tragedy underscores the importance of having working and properly placed smoke detectors, an exit plan and a safe gathering location in case of emergency.”