Minneapolis Crews Make Quick Work of Duplex Fire

Crews had a rather quick response to a duplex fire in South Minneapolis Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters from Engine 5 arrived at 3028 Bloomington Ave. South, a two-story duplex, to find smoke showing. The residents had already evacuated.

“Firefighters had finished a training exercise and were two blocks away,” KMSP reported.

Assistant Chief Cherie Penn said that the fire started in a wall of the entry way to the second floor unit. The fire extended through the walls into the attic area.

Related Article:

• Firefighters Just Two Blocks Away From South Minneapolis House Fire

Chemical Assessment Team Investigates Threats at Woodbury and Hastings Businesses

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St. Paul’s Chemical Assessment Team (CAT) was kept busy Monday while investigating two reports of a suspicious powder at businesses in Hastings and Woodbury.

The CAT team was called to the Home Design store at 3475 Vermillion St. in Hastings around 4:30 p.m. They found an envelope that contained white powder and had been opened earlier in the day by workers.

St. Paul Fire PIO Steve Zaccard said crews used monitors to investigate the powder and it was determined to be baking powder. The letter was turned over to Hastings police for further investigation.

The units left Hastings for the Home Depot at 8334 Tamarack Village in Woodbury for a similar report, just before 6 p.m.

There, the team investigated another letter containing threats. While no powder was evident, crews again deployed their monitors and found no traces of chemicals.

Once the incident was declared safe, the letter was turned over to the Woodbury Public Safety officials.

St. Paul Squad 1, Hazmat 1 and Chief 3 responded as the CAT team.

Fatal Minneapolis Fire During Dec. Storm Blamed on Candle

Officials say that the fire that claimed two lives during the Dec. 12 snowstorm was caused by a candle.

The fire, at 3616 Elliot Ave. South, made national news when one of the responding engine companies got stuck in snow falling from one of the largest storms in Minnesota history.

Firefighters were called about 1:30 a.m. and heavy fire and smoke showing from the two-story home.

Crews rescued three residents who were trapped on a porch roof. Another resident has escaped to a nearby home. Residents said eight people were in the structure at the time.

“The most probable cause is a lighted candle coming into contact with combustibles,” Assistant Chief Cherie Penn said.

Related Articles:

• Two Dead in Minneapolis House Fire
• Video: 2 Die in Minneapolis Fire, Fire Truck Stuck in Snow 1/2 Block Away