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Plane Crashes at Crystal Airport
June 4 – Two people were injured after an experimental plane crashed at the Crystal Airport on Saturday.
Crews from West Metro fire were called to the airport around 6 p.m. and found the plane down, about 100 feet from the end of the runway.
According to the Star Tribune, the single engine, fixed-wing plane failed to gain altitude.
The two occupants were transported to the hospital and their conditions are unknown.
Firefighters applied a blanket of foam around the plane.
Brooklyn Park House Fire Called ‘Suspicious’
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
April 11 – Officials say that Monday’s fire that heavily damaged a Brooklyn Park home is suspicious.
Brooklyn Park and West Metro crews were dispatched to 6633 Kentucky Ave. at 9:03 p.m.
The first unit arrived to find the one-story, 1,500-square-foot dwelling well involved in fire. The home was close to the end of a dirt road which was a dead-end.
The first engine arrived and deployed a master stream to the blazing structure and also pulled a line to protect the exposure on the D-side.
Crews encountered water supply issues when they first arrived, because the closest hydrant was over 1,000 feet away, according to Deputy Fire Chief Todd Seitz.
Firefighters focused on protecting the exposures and controlling the heavy volume of fire coming from the structure.
The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes.
The Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team was called to assist with the investigation. Seitz said the fire is suspicious and that officials are looking for a vehicle that left the area prior to the fire being discovered.
Plymouth Engine 21 and Osseo Tanker 11 with Chief 1 covered the city.
- Assignment: Brooklyn Park Engines 12, 21, 31, 41, Aerial 21, Rescue 31 Chiefs 1, 2, 3, 21 and 31. Mutual aid: West Metro Chief 11 and Aerial 11, Brooklyn Center Engine 3 and Salvage and Maple Grove Aerial 11.
Video: Brooklyn Park Garage Fire
We found a video of the March 29 fire that destroyed a garage in Brooklyn Park.
Several West metro fire crews were called to the fire at 7616 69th Ave. at 8:24 p.m.
Firefighters Hold Blaze to Brooklyn Park Garage
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
March 29 – An update on Monday’s garage fire in Brooklyn Park.
Fire crews were called to 7616 69th Ave. at 8:24 p.m.
When he arrived first, Brooklyn Park Deputy Chief Todd Seitz said fire was coming through the roof of the 30-by-60-foot garage.
“Fire was threatening a four-plex building within feet of the garage, Seitz said. He said crews worked to protect the exposures and knock down the heavy fire.
The first engine secured a water supply and placed it’s deck gun into operation. The next crew deployed a master stream to protect the exposure.
Once the fire was knocked down, crews entered the buildng and performed overhaul.
Seitz said crews faced several challenges, including electric lines and also propane tanks and other contents in the garage.
The fire gutted the garage and several nearby vehicles. The fire caused about $50,000 in damage.
Plymouth Engine 21 and Captain 21 covered Brooklyn Park while crews were at the scene.
Mutual Aid Responds to Brooklyn Park Fire
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
March 29 – Several fire departments battled what appears to be a garage fire in Brooklyn Park on Tuesday evening.
Crews were called to the 7600 block of 69th Avenue just before 9 p.m.
Units from Maple Grove, Osseo, Plymouth and West Metro were called to assist Brooklyn Park crews.
Firefighters worked to protect nearby residential buildings.
TwinCitiesFireWire.com will update the story when more information is available.
Update: Brooklyn Park Fire Caused by Child Playing with Lighter
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Twin Cities Fire Photo
Twin Cites Fire Wire Photo
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
We have an update on yesterday’s apartment fire in Brooklyn Park.
Firefighters were called to the Willow Apartments at 6010 65th Ave. at 5:15 p.m. for a report of an apartment fire.
Brooklyn Park Chief 2, Deputy Chief Todd Seitz, arrived to find fire showing from the top floor on the A-side of the apartment building. The structure was still occupied and a second alarm was called because, “we had
what appeared to be movement from within the unit involved,” Seitz said. He assumed command.
The the two-story building, constructed of wood-frame, has three wings that are separated by fire walls forming a U-shape. The fire was burning in the center wing that measured 430 feet long by 60 feet wide. There are 120 units in that building.
Crews from Brooklyn Park Engines 31 and 32 deployed a 150-foot 2 1/2-inch line with a wye to the second floor. A 200-foot stretch of 1 3/4-inch hose was supplemented with an additional length of hose to make the fire apartment. Brooklyn Park Chief 21 assumed interior command.
“Crews reported thick smoke and heat inside the hallway just passed the fire doors leading to the unit,” Seitz said.
Command was receiving reports of people jumping from second floor windows and Brooklyn Park Aerial 21 was assigned to rescue operations on the D-side.
West Metro Aerial 11 was positioned on the C-side for roof operations. Brooklyn Park Engine 12 was tasked with searching the fire floor.
The fire was contained to the original apartment and the unit below suffered water damaged.
According to Seitz, the fire was caused by a child playing with a lighter. Damage was estimated at $45,000.
The Red Cross was called in to help two families.
- Assignment: First Alarm: Brooklyn Park Engines 12, 31, 32, 41, Brooklyn Park Aerial 21, West Metro Aerial 11, Brooklyn Park Chiefs 1, 2, 21 and West Metro Chief 11. Second Alarm: Brooklyn Center Engine 3 and Chief 2, Maple Grove Engine 11 and Chief 4, Osseo Tanker 11 and Chief 1 and Plymouth Lieutenant 23. Osseo Utility 11 provided air bottles. Plymouth Engine 21 covered Brooklyn Park
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Fire Held to Kitchen of Plymouth Home
March 12- Firefighters quickly contained a kitchen fire at a Plymouth home on Saturday night.
Plymouth Fire crews were dispatched to reported house fire at 10020 30th Ave. N just before 8 p.m.
Lt. 23 went on scene with nothing showing from a two-story dwelling. Upon entering the home, a working fire was found in the kitchen. Lt. 23 passed command to West Metro Chief 31 on his arrival.
The crew from Engine 21 established a water supply and stretched a 1 3/4″ hoseline to contain the fire to the kitchen area. Ladder 21’s crew provided a backup hoseline and assisted with overhauling the scene.
The fire was under control in 12 minutes from dispatch.
Additional firefighters provided ventilation and salvage operations.
Plymouth Fire Chief Rick Kline says the fire caused about $40,000 in damage.
- Assignment: Plymouth Engine 21, Tower 11, Ladders 21 and 41.
Area Firefighters Participate in Stair Climb
Apple Valley FD Photo
Firefighters from across the metro participated in the 2011 Fight for Air Climb at the Accenture Tower in Minneapolis last Saturday.
Congratulations to the more than 400 participants. The overall goal of all climbers was to bring in $140,000 and they exceeded that by $12,193.61.
Firefighters from the following climbed: Shakopee, Stewartville, Long Lake, Lexington, Apple Valley, Golden Valley, Chanhassen, Brooklyn Park, West Metro, Richmond, Jordan, Kensington, Glencoe, and Pierre.
Following are the results from the firefighter categories:
Fastest Firefighter
- Fastest Male Firefighter – Mark Alberts, Hutchinson Fire Department – 4:48
- Fastest Female Firefighter – Nancy Schmelzle, St. Louis Park – 6:59
Top Fundraising Firefighter Teams
- Overall Top Fundraising Firefighter Team – Golden Valley Fire Department – $9,650
- 2nd Place Fundraising Firefighter Team – Chanhassen Fire Department – $6,170
- 3rd Place Fundraising Firefighter Team – Stewartville Fire – $3,865
Top Fundraising Firefighters
- Top Fundraising Firefighter – Ken Bence, Golden Valley Fire Department – $4,660
- 2nd Place Fundraising Firefighter – Steve Smith, Chanhassen Fire Department – $1,530
- 3rd Place Fundraising Firefighter – John Williams, Chanhassen Fire Department – $1,345
Fastest Firefighter Teams
- Overall Fastest Fire Fighter Team – Hutchinson Fire Department – 27:56
- 2nd Place Fastest Firefighter Team – Long Lake Fire Department – 28:32
- 3rd Place Fastest Firefighter Team – Shakopee Fire – 28:44
In the photo above, the Apple Valley Fire Department Smoke Eaters climbing team.  Front row: (left to right) Marisa Holman, Lt. Colleen Elvin and Laura Basballe. Back row: (left to right) Brian Benson, Lt. Pat Gram, Tom Ilg.
Click here for more information on the climb and click here for more photos.
Plymouth Fire Consumes 2 Dozen Apartments
Dozens of residents were displaced after a fire-alarm fire ripped through a Plymouth apartment complex on Monday evening. Two residents and one firefighter suffered minor injuries.
Reported about 4:50 p.m., the fire consumed 24 apartments of the Plymouth Oaks Apartments at 3301 Highway 169. About 50 firefighters from 10 departments responded to bring the fire under control.
Plymouth Deputy Fire Chief Kip Springer told local media that it appears that the fire started on the third floor of the three-story building and that all residents escaped safely.
- View Slideshow:Â Here
Crews rescued several pets from the building.
The fire quickly spread through the top floor of the building and consumed the attic.
At least one aerial ladder was flowing a master stream and several hoselines surrounding the building poured water on to the flames.
“As late as 9 p.m., firefighters on extended ladders continued to pour water into hot spots on the blackened skeletal roof line in the middle section of the southwest wing of the L-shaped building, where the fire was concentrated,” the Star Tribune reported.
Deputy Chief Kip told the Star Tribune that investigators will be on the scene of an extended period of time. The paper also reports that complex staff has assisted the residents find shelter this evening.
Mutual aid was received from Brooklyn Park, Excelsior, Hamel, Minnetonka, Rogers, Wayzata and West Metro, according to local media.
KSTP-TV reports that a fire in July 2007 caused $4 million in damage to one building in the complex. Another fire, in February 2008, left 30 units damaged.
Related:
Twin Cities Fire Wire 