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Tornado Strains Metro Fire Departments
Photo Courtesy Of Josh Grubb
Photo Courtesy Of Josh Grubb
Photo Courtesy Of Josh Grubb
Photo Courtesy Of Josh Grubb
Photo Courtesy Of Josh Grubb
Photo Courtesy Of Josh Grubb
MAY 22 – Fire crews in the Twin Cities were very busy this evening and will remain busy throughout the night managing the aftermath of today’s tornado.
Tornado damage was extensive on the North Side of Minneapolis and through Fridley this afternoon, toppling trees and destroying buildings.
Minneapolis Fire taxed its resources managing the damage that sliced through a large area of the North Side neighborhoods from the Near North Side to Camden.
In Fridley, damage was reported in the 694 & University area and Northeast from that location including trees down and roofs being blown off structures.
Fridley Fire Department staffed its stations prior to the tornado and activated its EOC immediately after they started receiving reports of damage.
Mutual Aid was started from Columbia Heights, Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View as well as St. Anthony.
Other fire agencies in the metro were busy with storm related calls including St. Louis Park who fought a dwelling fire in the 3000 Block of Oregon Ave South with the assistance of Hopkins Fire Department.
Twin Cities Fire Wire will update this story when more information is available.
Fridley Natural Gas Leak Causes Evacuations
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
MAY 19 – Fridley Fire Department crews responded to a six inch gas line leak that was ruptured by contractors operating a backhoe. The incident in the area of 58th Avenue and 2 1/2 street today caused a neighborhood to be evacuated.
Fridley Fire crews were called to the area for a natural gas leak. First arriving crews determined that the line was six inches in diameter and started an immediate evacuation of the area with Fridley Police.
Fridley Engine 3 laid a 4 inch supply line and a pre-connect line for safety.
Mutual Aid was started from Columbia Heights, Brooklyn Center, Saint Anthony and Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View to cover stations and assist at the scene.
Fridley Chief 1 reported at 3:30pm today that the gas leak had been secured.
Twin Cities Fire Wire will update this story when more information is available.
Large Scale Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations in St. Anthony, Minneapolis
May 10 – A gas main that was struck during maintenance work caused evacuations in St. Anthony and Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters remained on the scene for 14 hours to protect utility works that were involved in the massive repair effort.
St. Anthony firefighters were called to the intersection of Stinson Boulevard. and 30th Avenue NE around 2:30 p.m.
Chief John Malenick said that contractors working for CenterPoint Energy were performing routine maintenance when they punctured a four-inch hole in the 12-inch main. The gas was under pressure at 90 psi and people in the area reported a large hissing sound.
The size of the leak prompted evacuations of a four-block area. Since parts of Minneapolis were going to be evacuated, Minneapolis fire crews were summoned to the scene.
The pressure of the blowing gas, coupled with the large size of the hole reduced the immediate danger to residents on the street, according to Malenick.
Saint Anthony struck an all-call and mutual aid was later called from Columbia Heights, New Brighton and Roseville.
CenterPoint officials determined that shutting down the main would impact too large of an area, including Northeast Minneapolis, Columbia Heights and other surrounding communities. They had to cut the line at two locations and create a new line to bypass the leak.
Firefighters staffed hoselines in the areas where workers were making the repairs. “Our priority was to protect the workers,” Malenick said. “They were in an extremely vulnerable position.”
He also said that gas seeping into the ground of the surrounding neighborhoods was a concern, but it was closely monitored.
Malenick said that close to 20 St. Anthony firefighters stayed on scene until the repair was completed and any dangers were removed. The crews were released around 6 a.m.
The Minneapolis Mobile command unit was called to the scene to assist in organizing the large number of agencies, including police, fire, utilities, public works and other support groups. Hennepin EMS crews were also on the scene of the incident.
“It was a tremendous effort on behalf of all agencies who were called out,” Malenick told Twin Cities Fire Wire.
Update: Cooking Led to Columbia Heights Fire
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
March 7 – The Columbia Heights apartment fire that Twin Cities Fire Wire reported on last night was caused by cooking.
Columbia Heights crews were called to 907 46 1/2 Ave. about 8 p.m. While they were responding they received updates of heavy smoke in the hallways of the building. Fridley and St. Anthony fire units were dispatched as well.
Engine 1 arrived and reported fire showing from a second floor apartment. The three-story building contains 21 units.
Crews pulled a 2 1/2-inch hoseline with a gated wye. They stretched a 1 3/4-inch hoseline off the wye and entered the fire apartment, where they contained the fire to the area around the stove, according to Lt. Dan O’Brien.
“The cause is a cooking fire, left unattended,” O’Brien said.
The mutual aid crews stood by and were returned shortly after the fire was doused.
The fire was held to the kitchen of the one apartment, but smoke travelled throughout the building and likely damaged all units.
- Assignment: Columbia Heights Engine 1 and Ladder 1. Mutual Aid: Fridley Ladder 2 and St. Anthony Engine 11
Related:
Apartment Fire in Columbia Heights
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
March 7 – Fire damaged at least one apartment in Columbia Heights on Monday evening.
Units were dispatched to 907 46 1/2 Ave., near Central Ave. NE, about 8 p.m. As crews were enroute, they were updated that heavy smoke was filling the hallways of the building.
Columbia Heights Engine 1 arrived and reported heavy fire on the second floor of the three-story, multi-unit apartment building.
Fridley and St. Anthony firefighters, along with a Columbia Heights all-call, were dispatched to the scene.
TwinCitiesFireWire.com will update the story when additional details are available.
Twin Cities Fire Wire 