Resident, Firefighter Injured In Mpls. Apartment Fire

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Officials say two people suffered injuries Sunday after a fire started in a Minneapolis apartment building.

Firefighters responded to the 40-unit building near the intersection of 8th Street South and Portland Avenue around noon. Smoke and flames could be seen coming from windows on the building's third floor.

Officials said one person who lived in the building was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center, with unknown injuries.

A firefighter who responded also suffered a back injury.

Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel said fire crews were able to knock down the flames, but due to the layout of the building, fighting the fire was difficult.

"Everything had to come up and down the stairs. Very, very challenging and [the firefighters] did a heck of a job today," Fruetel said.

Resident Diane Tyrrell's unit took many of the flames.

"I don't know. It's just really overwhelming," she said. "I have three granddaughters that were with me."

Several residents of the building told WCCO that they ignored the alarm – thinking it was a drill – until firefighters came and knocked on their doors.

Firefighters had to knock on all 40 doors in order to evacuate the building.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.