Fire destroys second story of Manitowoc home

A fire in the 1300 block of South 10th Street in Manitowoc Monday destroyed the second story of a home.

The Manitowoc Fire Department responded to the blaze at around 2 p.m.

No injuries were reported, as no one was home at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Manitowoc Fire Department Chief Todd Blaser said.

Witnesses reported hearing a possible explosion during the course of the fire. However, Blaser said that was not the case.

"It was just the type of fire that occurred," Blaser said. "What will happen, once (the fire) gets enough air, whether it's an opening door or it gets air some other way, it blew out the windows. It got hot enough where it blew out the window and got that rush of air where flames kind of burst out. Nothing indicates it was a true explosion."

The home did not have working smoke detectors at the time of the blaze. Blaser said it is especially important this time of year that everyone ensure their home's smoke detectors are in good working condition.

"It is a state law now that there should be smoke detectors in houses, rental units, everything," Blaser said. "Not only is it state law, but it's also just the safe thing to do. Smoke detectors save lives."

The second story of the house is uninhabitable, and the American Red Cross has responded to assist the residents. The Red Cross is also encouraging people to regularly check their smoke detectors.

"Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area," the organization said in a press release. "Put a smoke alarm inside every bedroom. Because smoke rises, put the alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall. Test the smoke alarms regularly. Install new batteries every year. Get new smoke alarms every 10 years."

Additionally, the Red Cross has provided safety tips to help prevent fires from occurring.

"Homeowners should check for items that can be hazardous such as candles and space heaters — common items that can turn dangerous very quickly," the organization said in a press release. "Keep items that can catch on fire at least 3 feet away from anything that gets hot, such as sources of heat or stoves. Never smoke in bed. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep."

People can visit www.redcross.org for more steps to take to lessen the chance of a fire.