Above, the damage to the duplex is shown on the outside of the house after the fire.

A house fire in Blue Earth on Saturday, June 18, resulted in no injuries, but did displace two families.

The fire call came in at 6:08 p.m. on Saturday. A duplex at 401 S. Galbraith Street in Blue Earth had the southwest side fully engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading to the attic of the home when firefighters arrived.

All of the occupants of the house had made it out uninjured before the fire departments had arrived.

The house, which is a duplex rental property, suffered significant damage to the lower level and to the attic. Fire crews were on the scene for about four hours.

Assisting at the scene was the Blue Earth Fire Department, Winnebago Fire Department, Frost Fire Department, Elmore Fire Department, Blue Earth UHD Ambulance, Blue Earth Police Department, Faribault County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Fire Marshall’s Office.

“The fire was brought under control, with the help of the other departments, and with no instances of any injuries to any firemen,” Blue Earth Fire Department chief Steve Brown said. “There was some damage to the siding on the house next door, due to the extreme heat from the fire.”

Brown said the State Fire Marshall inspected the property at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning and completed his investigation.

“The fire appeared to have started under the back steps and porch,” Brown said. “It burned up the side of the house and kept on going in the house.”

The chief said the State Fire Marshall called the cause of the fire “undetermined” and said he felt the structure was a total loss.

“It was difficult to determine the exact cause in this case,” Brown explained. “So the cause is going to be listed as undetermined.”

The Blue Earth Police Department assisted with finding some temporary living accommodations for the families who had been living at the duplex. One family was placed at the Super 8 Motel in Blue Earth and the other family went to stay with family and friends in Winnebago.