IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, May 19, 2008 - The Ironwood Public Safety Department is continuing its investigation of a structure fire that occurred Sunday morning.

At approximately 3:36 AM CST Sunday morning, Negaunee Regional Dispatch received a 911 call stating that the neighbor's house was on fire. The neighbor stated that the owner was out of the house, but unsure if anyone else was inside.

Ironwood Public Safety officers and Ironwood Volunteer members arrived a short time later and reported the home was fully engulfed. Firefighters fought the fire for over three hours. No one else was found in the residence.

The owner of the home, William Korpela, Jr. of 155 West Ash Street reported that he was sleeping on the couch when the fire started. He attempted to put the fire out, but it grew rapidly. Mr. Korpela then jumped through a first story window. He was taken by Beacon Ambulance to Grand View Hospital in Ironwood where he was being treated for minor injuries.

The preliminary cause of the fire appears to be from careless smoking.

Five Ironwood Public Safety officers and ten Ironwood Volunteer members battled the blaze with the assistance of the Hurley Police Department, Beacon Ambulance and Xcel Energy.