This story was updated to add new information .
HOWARD — “One of the larger fires in Howard” that the village’s Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Staeven has seen this year burned through an estimated 12 apartments in the Northern Pines Apartment complex Tuesday evening.
Staeven estimated the fire created about $750,000 in damages at 1202 Memorial Drive. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
The Red Cross planned to shelter displaced individuals from the affected apartments in its community center. Apartment management was also assisting relocation efforts.
The fire was contained to the building where it began. Staeven observed water and ceiling damage, though credited a firewall in the building for helping to minimize the spread of the blaze.
The fire that is believed to have started on the second level of a building within the complex was already “quite large” by the time the Howard Fire Rescue was dispatched just after 6 p.m. An estimated 20 people had already evacuated by the time the fire department arrived on the scene.