Sheriff: House Fire Near Alexandria Suspicious

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Authorities are investigating after a house fire near Alexandria late Saturday night is suspicious in nature.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded at about 11:57 p.m. to a report of a house fire at 4438 County Road 40 in Garfield. The location is just north and west of Alexandria.

When firefighters arrived, flames were visible from the home and it was gutted as a result of the fire. A 38-year-old man who was the only one home at the time of the fire told authorities he doesn't know how the fire started.

He was provided with a hotel room for the night. The State Fire Marshal was called in because the fire was suspicious in nature. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Garfield Fire Department with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the State Fire Marshal.

The Brandon Fire Department and Minnesota State Patrol provided assistance at the scene.