Fire Hits Woodbury Home on Super Bowl Sunday

A vacant Woodbury home went up in flames Sunday night just as the Super Bowl was ending.

The house, on Hillcrest Drive just off Upper Afton Road, sustained major damage. It was empty at the time. The got the call at about 9:30 p.m., said Christopher O'Brien, who was serving as duty chief Sunday night.

Firefighters fought the blaze for about an hour before it was "knocked down," O'Brien said, and they spent another few hours on the scene afterward. About 25 Woodbury firefighters responded to the call, in addition to six each from the Oakdale and Maplewood fire departments, O'Brien said. None were injured fighting the blaze.

The roof collapsed at one point, but firefighters were outside the home when that happened, O'Brien said.

The home was totalled. Investigators have not yet determined the cause.

Scott DeGree, who lives next door, said the home was being “flipped” and was in the process of being remodeled.

“When I came out, it was totally on fire,” he said.

DeGree said a neighbor came to his door to alert him about the fire. There was some exterior damage to his home.

“It went up fast,” he said. “It was a gutted-out house, so there was nothing to slow the fire down. … All of a sudden it was flames everywhere.”

Paul Schoenecker, with Woodbury’s building-inspection department, was at the house Monday morning. He was there to make sure the home’s water was turned off and get some information about what it will take to rebuild the house.

"It was quite a fire," said Fire Chief Todd Johnson.