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St. Paul Firefighter Falls Down Elevator Shaft at Brewery Fire
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cites Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cites Fire Wire Photo
June 21 – A St. Paul firefighter suffered minor injuries after falling down an elevator shaft at Stroh’s Brewery on Tuesday night. He was battling one of two fires in the vacant complex.
Fire crews were called to the complex, at 707 E. Minnehaha Ave., just before 9 p.m. for a lightning strike with smoke showing from the complex.
Engine 4 arrived to find smoke showing from a two-story building on the Southwest side of the facility. Firefighters found rubbish burning and quickly contained the smoky fire.
Shortly after that was knocked down, crews found smoke coming from a four-story building across the alley, Chief Tim Butler told Twin Cities Fire Wire.
Command requested two additional engines to assist with water supply and additional personnel. Crews had to stretch several hundred feet of hose from the street to the fire buildings.
When crews forced their way inside the building, they found heavy smoke on all floors. Crews began opening up the building from the exterior to perform ventilation.
As firefighters searched for the seat of the fire a veteran firefighter fell about 15 feet down an elevator shaft.
He was removed from the shaft and was examined at the scene. He suffered minor cuts and bruises and was taken to the hospital for further examination.
“We were very lucky tonight,” Butler said after the fire was out. “This could have been a whole lot worse.”
Firefighters continued to search for the fire. It was located in the basement and was brought under control.
As heavy rain pushed through the metro area, St. Paul firefighters packed up several hundred feet of hose while the other crews evacuated the smoke from the building.
Crews remained on scene until 11 p.m. and investigators are looking into the cause of the fires.
St. Paul firefighters battled a fire on the roof of Stroh’s on June 9.
- Assignment: Engine 4, 7, 22, Ladder 7, Squad 1, Chief 3. RIT Assignment: Engine 8/Medic 8, Ladder 18, Squad 3, Medic 18, Ladder 8. Special Called: Engines 15 and 24 and Ladder 10 with the Air Trailer
Eagan House Fire Possibly Sparked by Lightning
Eagan Fire Department Photo
Eagan Fire Department Photo
Eagan Fire Department Photo
June 21 – Officials believe an early-morning house fire in Eagan was caused by lightning. Four of Eagan’s five stations were called to the scene.
Eagan crews were called to 885 Curry Trail at 4:45 for a report of flames from the roof of a dwelling. The 9-1-1 caller, a neighbor, was going to notify the residents of the fire.
Engine 4 and Ladder 2 arrived to find flames showing from the attic of the split-level home.
“Crews did an excellent job with a quick attack of the main body of fire in the attic area,” Chief Mike Scott told Twin Cities Fire Wire. The fire was burning above the living and dining rooms.
The home suffered extensive damage from smoke and water and damage estimates were around $100,000.
“Neighbors reported a loud burst of thunder about an hour before the fire was reported,” Scott said. “One neighbor described the noise as the loudest thunder he had ever heard.” The fire marshal is investigating the cause at this time.
The five residents escaped from the home and no injuries were reported.
- Assignment: Engines 2, 3, 4, 42, 5, Ladder 2, Rescue 3, Rehab 2 and Chiefs 1, 3 and 5
Lakeville Home Damaged by Two-alarm Fire
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
June 16 – A two-alarm fire damaged a Lakeville home on Thursday.
At 2:49 p.m., Lakeville firefighters were called to 17398 Jaguar Ave. and Chief 3 arrived to find heavy smoke and fire showing from a garage attached to a two-story home. A second alarm was called, bringing mutual aid from Apple Valley.
Firefighters from Lakeville Engine 3 entered the home and attacked the flames from the service door. Engine 2’s crews stretched a back up hoseline and conducted primary search duties, according to Fire Chief Michael Meyer.
The crew of Ladder 4 was assigned to open up the ceiling in the master bedroom and stop the fire from spreading to the attic of the home. Secondary searches were performed by Rescue 1 and Ladder 1’s crew used the aerial ladder to ventilate the home by opening the skylight above the master bedroom.
Firefighters cleared the scene by 5:30 and investigators remained on scene to determine the cause of the fire. It caused extensive damage to the garage and the second floor bedroom and smoke damage throughout the home.
- Assignment: Engines 2, 3, 44, Ladders 1 and 4, Rescues 1 and 3, Chiefs 1 and 3, Fire Marshal. Second Alarm: Apple Valley Ladder 1. EMS: Allina ambulance and supervisor.
Arson Fire Damages South Minneapolis Building
June 5 – An early-morning fire in South Minneapolis on Sunday is arson, officials say.
Fire crews were called to 2121 Chicago. Ave. at 5: 11 a.m.
They found a shed burning in the rear of the building, Assistant Chief Cherie Penn said.
The flames spread to a porch and the rear stairwell of the adjacent two-story building. The vacant building housed commercial space on the first floor and residential areas on the second floor.
Penn said a second alarm was called for additional resources and to help keep the fire from spreading.
The fire was deemed arson and Minneapolis police are continuing he investigation.
Updated: St. Paul Apartment Fire Leaves One Dead
Twin Cities Fire Wire
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Updated Sunday morning: Officials say the resident, a 34-year-old male, died from his injuries. The fire is classified as intentional and investigators are still digging into the details of the fire.
June 4- St. Paul firefighters rescued a man who is in serious condition after an apartment fire early Saturday morning.
Crews were called to 1533 Woodbridge St., the Woodbridge Terrace Apartments, at 12:15 a.m.
Engine 22 arrived to find smoke showing from the lower level of the three-story building that contains 24 units. They stretched a pre-connect to the fire apartment.
Ladder 22 began ventilation as residents rushed from the building. Engine 17 provided a backup attack line.
“The firefighters got into the apartment and quickly knocked down the fire,” according to St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard.
As crews were performing the primary searches, “they found the man, believed to be about 30, on the bed.” Firefighters removed him from the building and begin rendering medical assistance.
He was transported by Medic 8 to Regions Hospital. Zaccard said he was in serious condition, suffering from burns and smoke.
The fire was contained to the room of origin, but the entire apartment sustained smoke and heat damage. Residents were allowed back in the building within an hour.
Investigators are still at the scene trying to determine the cause.
Assignment: Engines 22, 17, 18, Ladder 22, Squad 1, Chief 2. RIT Assignment: Engine 8, Ladder 18, Medic 8, Medic 4, Squad 2, Chief 1. Special Called: Squad 3.
Updated: Memorial Day Weekend Ends with Blaze in Oakdale
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
This story was updated on Tuesday evening.
May 30 – A late night house fire, fueled by gusty winds, caused extensive damage to a Oakdale home on Monday.
Around 11 p.m., firefighters were called to 5489 Golfview Ave. for a reported fire on the deck that was spreading to the home. Additional calls reported the structure was involved.
Oakdale Chief 7201 (Chief Jeff Anderson) went on scene with heavy fire showing from the C-side of the dwelling. The lightweight wood-frame home was 2 1/2 stories in the front and 3 1/2 stories in the rear. The three residents had evacuated.
Command requested mutual aid engines from Maplewood and Woodbury almost immediately.
“When we arrived, the wind was pushing the fire into the eaves and through each of the windows and doors in the rear,” Oakdale Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Wold told Twin Cities Fire Wire.
He said fire was already involving the three levels of the home and it was decided to make a defensive attack.
“With a wind-driven fire involving a lightweight home, it moves pretty fast and you have to be careful about putting crews inside,” Wold said.
Arriving crews deployed several 2 1/2-inch hoselines around the structure to tackle the flames.
Firefighters also positioned 1 3/4-inch hoselines to protect the home on the B-side of the structure, which was less than 10 feet away.
The fire gained possession of the attic space and it was decided to use an elevated master stream to douse the flames as wind gusts in excess of 20 mph were steadily pushing the flames.
The fire was knocked down in about 15 minutes.
Once the bulk of the fire was knocked down, crews entered to home to hit the hot spots.
Once inside, crews reported that the home was structurally sound. “surprisingly, it was mostly content that burned inside and the structural components were in pretty good shape.”
Crews had to perform extensive overhaul as the fire spread throughout much of the home. The intense flames caused the lightweight truss roof to collapse.
Wold said the fire was deemed accidental, but the exact cause of the fire could not be pinpointed.
Crews from Mahtomedi, Maplewood and North St. Paul were at the scene. Units from Lake Elmo and Woodbury covered Oakdale station.
Minneapolis Fire Crews Tame Arson Fire Before it Spreads
MNDOT Traffic Camera Photo
MNDOT Traffic Camera Photo
May 17 –Officials say that a two-alarm fire in North Minneapolis on Tuesday is arson.
Fire crews were called to 2314 Dupont Ave. N. just after 5 p.m. and crews found heavy fire and smoke showing from the rear of the two-story duplex.
According to the Extra Alarm Association Facebook page, Engine 4 laid an attack line Engine 14 deployed a backup line after securing a water supply.
Fire was on the first and second floors and involving the attic.
Ladder 4’s crew positioned the aerial ladder to the roof of the structure and Ladder 10 conducted primary searches.
Engine 2 laid a supply line to Ladder 4, the Extra Alarm Association reported. Shortly after, they went into a defensive attack as flames were shooting from the roof.
“Due to the close proximity to other structures, a second alarm was called to get additional resources on scene,” Assistant Chief Cherie Penn said. Engines 16 and 11, with Rescue 9 were dispatched.
As crews battled the fire from the outside, Engine 16 laid a supply line to the scene.
After the bulk of the fire was knocked down, crews reentered the structure to pull ceilings and walls to find the hot spots.
Penn said “there was more than one point of origin,” and the Minneapolis police are further investigating the fire. and as such a point of origin has not been determined.
‘Suspicious’ Fire Contained by Sprinkler in St. Paul
St. Paul Fire Dept. Photo
St. Paul Fire Dept. Photo
May 16 – For the second time in a week, a single fire sprinkler doused a fire in a high occupancy building in downtown St. Paul.
Just after 1 a.m., fire crews were dispatched for alarm sounds at Mears Park Place Apartment at 401 Sibley St.
As units went enroute, they were updated that there was smoke on the sixth floor. The eight-story apartment building has 281 units.
Crews ascended to the upper floors and found a heavy smoke condition. They located an upholstered chair that had been burning in the sixth floor lobby.
“One fire sprinkler head had activated and put the fire out,” St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard said.
Crews ventilated the lingering smoke before returning to service.
Zaccard said that the fire caused $10,000 in damage, mainly to the area where the chair was burning in the hallway. No injuries were reported.
The cause is under investigation, but officials says it appears “suspicious.”
Last week, a sprinkler snuffed a kitchen fire on the 11th floor of 20 Exchange St. E.
Inver Grove Heights Fire Injures Resident
May 10 – Firefighters from the south metro battled a late-night house fire in Inver Grove Heights that left one resident with injuries on Tuesday.
Inver Grove Heights (IGH) firefighters were called to a house fire in the 10300 block of Barnes Way at 11:42 p.m. Eagan (EFD) was also dispatched on an auto-aid.
IGH Chief 1 and Eagan Chief 5 arrived to find flames leaping high from the roof of the garage attached to a one-story rambler home. “The flames must have been over 20 feet high when we got there,” Inver Grove Heights Chief Judy Thill told Twin Cities Fire Wire.
The only occupant of the home had evacuated and was being tended to by a HealthEast Ambulance crew.
Arriving together, IGH Engine 11 set up for fire attack and Eagan Engine/Tanker 5 set up for water supply.
Using handlines, Engine 11’s crews began a defensive attack on the garage. Once the heavy volume of fire was knocked down, Thill said crews moved inside the home to cut off the fire extension.
The home is located in an area with no hydrants.
Firefighters set up two drop tanks and EFD Engine 5 started to siphon water from the tanks. IGH Tankers 14 and 36 arrived and dumped their tanks before proceeding to the fill site at city hall, almost three miles away.
Mutual aid was called from Mendota Heights and Rosemount for additional tankers.
Inside the home, crews pulled ceilings to access the fire. “The crews did a great job of getting to the fire inside the attic and stopped it about half-way through the home.”
Thill said the home was suffered heavy smoke and water damage and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The last crews left the scene just after 2:30 a.m.
A crew from South Metro Fire was called first respond on a medical call during the fire.
Click here for aftermath photos from Inver Grove Heights Patch.
Twin Cities Fire Wire 