By Shereen Siewert
One person is hospitalized following an early morning blaze at a Merrill home, officials said.
Crews were called at about 1 a.m. Friday to a home on East Riverside Avenue in Merrill for a report of a fire after a neighbor reported seeing smoke and hearing someone calling for help. When crews arrived, heavy smoke was pouring from the eaves, the front window and door, according to Fire Chief Josh Klug.
The homeowner, a 62-year-old man, was injured as he attempted to extinguish the blaze. He was transported to a hospital for treatment, where he was in stable condition Monday morning.
The first floor of the home sustained major damage in the blaze, which remains under investigation.
Klug said the fire is not considered suspicious in nature.
