Stearns County House Fire

Fire destroyed a house in Stearns County Friday morning, but no injuries were reported.

The Sheriff’s Office says at just after 6am, the Paynesville Fire Department and Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to find the house on fire with heavy smoke and flames.

The homeowner, 67-year-old Ronald Lahr, was not home at the time of the fire.

Authorities say the preliminary investigation determined that the fire had started in the kitchen due to an electrical malfunction with an appliance.

The house was considered a total loss.