SUPERIOR – The Superior Volunteer Fire Department was quickly able to extinguish a fire on Pine Street in Superior after responding to a call from dispatch late Sunday afternoon.

According to John Woodland, chief of the Superior fire department, the fire started when Mark Hilton, the homeowner, tried to defrost pipes in his home with a blowtorch.

Hilton was evacuated to a neighbor’s home while the firefighters worked. According to Mineral County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Rodgers, the first responder on the scene, the lone resident had to be forcibly removed from the home.

“He wasn’t going anywhere,” said Rodgers.

Two engines responded and one ambulance. In all, approximately seven firefighters were on hand to fight the fire.

The firefighters were able to save the building. An opening needed to be cut in the back wall and another in the floor to get at part of the fire.

Woodland declared the structure itself as salvageable and the damage not too severe.

Hilton was also declared healthy by responding paramedics. No other people or animals were in the building at the time and no injuries were reported.