Woman dies from Blue Earth house fire

Published 10:36 am Friday, January 13, 2012

A woman died, and a man was severely burned Wednesday in a house fire in Blue Earth.

Authorities stated the woman, Susan Jean Domek, 57, of Blue Earth was rescued from the blazing house — at 505 E. 21st St. — after being found unresponsive in the back bedroom. She later died in United Hospital of Blue Earth because of complications of her injuries.

Dennis Paul Spencer, 57, also of Blue Earth, escaped the burning house on his own but was severely burned on his upper torso. Spencer was transported to United Hospital of Blue Earth and later airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center for the burns.

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As of Friday morning, Spencer was in critical but stable condition.

Authorities received a 911 call about the blaze from a female caller just after 7:45 p.m., according to a Faribault County Sheriff’s Office news release. The caller was reporting a fire at her residence.

Spencer and Domek were the only people at the home at the time of the fire.

An initial investigation indicates the fire may have started in a wood stove in the basement of the house, according to authorities.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Blue Earth Fire Department, the Faribault County Sheriff’s Office and the Blue Earth Police Department continue to investigate.