Fridley Police Officer Awakens Resident in Burning House

A Fridley police officer woke a man sleeping in a burning house in Fridley Thursday, helping the resident and his dog to safety, according to Fridley Fire Chief John Berg.

Officer Christopher Knight was first on the scene, along with a fire inspector, shortly before 3 p.m., after a neighbor reported smoke coming from the house in the 6700 block of Seventh Street NE, across from .

Berg said the fire gutted a three-season porch at the rear of the house and burned attic areas. The first floor of the home also suffered damage, he said. He said the house wasn't in liveable condition but was reparable. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

No fire fighters were hurt. The cool air temperature made conditions better for fighting the fire, Berg said. Crews from St. Anthony, Columbia Heights and Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View aided the Fridley Fire Department.