Charcoal grill cause of fire in south Minneapolis apartment building
Nobody was seriously hurt in the three-alarm fire that was brought under control in about 75 minutes, said Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner.
By Tim Harlow Star Tribune
August 30, 2017 — 8:18pm
Authorities say a charcoal grill left burning unattended on a second-floor balcony sparked a fire that heavily damaged a south Minneapolis apartment building early Wednesday and forced residents to flee.
Resident Kevin Gotch awoke to screams around 3:45 a.m. and at first thought it was neighbors arguing. Then he noticed an orange glow outside his first floor unit and realized why people upstairs were screaming.
The fire. forced Gotch and several residents out of the building on the 2400 block of 1st Avenue S. Nobody was seriously hurt in the three-alarm fire that was brought under control in about 75 minutes, said Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner.
It is believed that fire alarms did sound, which helped everybody get out, Tyner said.
Paramedics treated some residents on the scene for smoke inhalation while others were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, Tyner said.
No firefighters were hurt.
David Joles, Star Tribune
An early morning, three alarm apartment fire at 1st Ave. S and 25th in Minneapolis South displaced 10 people Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis, MN. Here, firefighters work the roof for hot spots.
Gotch, who just moved into the building three days ago, said he heard all the commotion and assumed somebody was having a spat. But he ran upstairs without his shoes and noticed all the flames and smoke. A second-floor resident handed him a fire extinguisher, which he used to try to “abate some of the flames,” he said. “I sprayed about three bursts, then in about 10 seconds I high-tailed it out of there.”
Gotch, 24, said he lost most of his possessions, mostly due to water damage. He did not have renter’s insurance and was unsure where he was going to stay in the long term. On Wednesday morning, he was at a friend’s house.
The Red Cross is assisting at least 10 residents who have been displaced.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN- Minneapolis fire officials say several people were hospitalized for minor injuries following a three-alarm fire at an apartment building in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 2445 block of 1st Ave. S. at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, and found heavy fire jumping from the front of the building upon arrival. Crews immediately laid fire lines and began searching for trapped residents. A second alarm was called at 3:58 a.m., and eventually a third for additional manpower.
All residents were able to escape the blaze, but several were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. The fire was brought under control about 5 a.m.
Investigators were quickly able to pinpoint the cause of the fire as an unattended BBQ on a second floor balcony. It has been ruled accidental.
According to Minneapolis Fire Department tweets, some residents were being assessed by paramedics for smoke inhalation. The Red Cross was called in to assist at least 10 adults who were displaced by the fire.
No firefighters were injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.