UPDATE: Two hospitalized following Hudson garage fire

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Police and fire officials are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire that injured two people and destroyed the attached garage of a twin home at 38 Brighton Path in Hudson's Lighthouse subdivision.

The fire reported at 1:22 a.m. Wednesday also destroyed two cars that were inside the garage.

According to a Hudson Police Department press release, the homeowner, Michael Helm, 43, told officers that his son Brandon Helm, 19, had set himself on fire in the garage, which started the garage on fire.

Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen wasn't available at the writing of this report to say whether the younger Helm intentionally set himself on fire, or if it was an accident.

Both of the Helms were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul after emergency workers arrived on the scene.

Brandon Helm was located at a neighbor's house and taken directly to Regions by St. Croix Emergency Medical Services.

The ambulance service took Michael Helm to Hudson Hospital, and from there he reportedly was transferred to Regions.

Hudson Fire Chief Jim Frye said the fire was still fairly small, but growing quickly, when he arrived at the scene. Firefighters used hand-held hoses to knock down the flames, as well as a "master stream" from an engine-mounted nozzle.

The fire damage was contained to garage for the most part, although there was some damage to the entryway of the twin home. Vinyl siding on the twin home, and on another twin home to the east, melted, too.

The Helm twin home also sustained smoke damage, Frye said.

Kathy Rykiss, who lives in the twin home connected to the Helms', told a Twin Cities television station that her home wasn't damaged.

The police department said it was continuing to investigate the fire, with the assistance of the fire department.

The Lighthouse development is located on the south side of I-94 and west of Hwy. 35.

Tags: news, fire, hudson, injury