Update: West Fargo fire tears through townhouses, no one hurt

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) A major fire in West Fargo has gutted a townhouse complex.

The fire was located at 237 12 1/2  Avenue East. The first 911 call came in at about 3:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Fire Chief Dan Fuller says a woman reported that the blaze started on her back porch.

“That’s the biggest takeaway,” said Fuller. “The reason we didn’t have to have over the ladder rescues or anything like that or people trapped in the building, is because they evacuated pretty early into the scene. Which is really important for us. And if they hadn’t had those working smoke alarms that wouldn’t have been that case.”

Fuller says the first fire hydrants that crews attempted to use failed and they had to run hoses to the fire from another hydrant. He also says the type of construction made the fire difficult to fight.

The entire West Fargo Fire Dept. responded along with three trucks from Fargo and a battalion chief.

Police blocked streets near the scene.

Sanford Ambulance, The Salvation Army, Red Cross and the Red River Valley Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit also responded.

There have been no reports of injuries to residents or emergency personnel.