NEW ULM — One motel guest suffered minor injuries in a fire Thursday afternoon at Colonial Inn on the northwest side of New Ulm, the city’s fire chief Paul Macho said in a press release.
Macho said the cause of the fire was a malfunctioning lighter of an unspecified type.
Firefighters responded to a call at 3:13 p.m. reporting the incident at 1315 N. Broadway St. They arrived to find two motel units engulfed in flames, Macho said.
New Ulm crews had the fire under control in about a half hour; however, it was necessary for firefighters to remain at the scene for about three hours.
Three motel units suffered heavy smoke damage.
All of the motel’s occupants had exited the structure before the arrival of the firefighters. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants.