30 Units Damaged In Burnsville Apartment Fire
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- A fire caused significant damage to the Raven Hill Apartment Complex in Burnsville early Saturday morning, putting nearly 60 people out of their apartments and damaging around 30 units.
The Burnsville Fire Department and other agencies responded to a report of a fire at about 12:20 a.m. Saturday. The complex is located just off Interstate 35W and Burnsville Parkway.
The fire woke Aaron Nelson up. He was staying at his girlfriend's apartment and said he woke up to screams.
"I heard some yelling from downstairs, nothing real specific, just fire, fire, fire," said Nelson.
Nelson grabbed his kids, pulled the fire alarm and then rushed to rescue a little boy crying in a nearby window.
"The patio door exploded, then it started rushing into the apartment. I just grabbed the boy, pulled them out and told him they need to leave," said Nelson.
Despite the panic, everyone got out safely. Four apartments are uninhabitable.
"For an hour after I was still shaking," said Nelson.
The Burnsville Fire Marshal, Lee LaTourelle, said the fire is still under investigation, but they do know it started outside on an enclosed apartment deck. It's something he's seen before.
"We've had several fires here and they've been from smoking on decks," said LaTourelle. "It just keeps happening."
LaTourelle said last year two of three fires at Raven Hill started that way.
WCCO cameras captured a fire at Raven Hill last September when nine units were damaged, as well as in June 2007 when the Burnsville Fire Department said careless smoking put about 200 people out of their apartments.
"From people putting their cigarettes out on the potting soil that gets dried out -- it's a very good medium to start fires," said LaTourelle.
He said he hope his department can do more than put out fires; he'd also like to put this dangerous pattern to an end.
Last year LaTourelle said he passed out 900 fire safe ashtrays at Raven Hill and area apartment complexes because he said careless smoking is such a problem.
Burnsville Public Information Officer Rory Bochniak said two people were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation and a firefighter suffered a knee injury while battling the blaze. The firefighter was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment, which is a standard procedure.
The Twin Cities Red Cross is assisting one displaced family and the Raven Hill apartment management said they are housing the rest of the families affected. They wouldn't comment on the cause of the fire, but a manager told WCCO their apartment complex requires renters insurance so most of the damages should be covered.
