Fire Officials Say Welding Caused Minneapolis Building Blaze

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities say welding is to blame for a fire at a downtown Minneapolis building Thursday morning.

Fire crews were called to the Ceresota Building on the 500 block of 2nd Street at about 7:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, heavy black smoke was showing on the eighth floor of a 10-story structure. Crews went into battle the fire from the interior.

Crews were able to put the fire out quickly, and nobody was inside the building at the time of the fire. Authorities say two workers who were not injured in the fire escaped to the roof. They were rescued by emergency personnel.

Fire officials said Friday that the cause of the fire was accidental due to welding. The fire started on the eighth floor and three sprinkler heads went off, holding off the fire until crews arrived.