Person found dead in Burnsville house fire following mental health crisis

A person is dead after a lakeside home in Burnsville, Minnesota, burned to the ground Tuesday during what city officials called an hourslong situation involving a "person in crisis."

The Burnsville Police Department and Burnsville Fire Department responded to a report of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis on the 300 block of Maple Island Road around 6:30 a.m. There, officers observed an individual inside the residence with a firearm. 

Police say officers attempted to negotiate with the person from a safe distance, but ultimately disengaged and cleared the scene, as the individual appeared to pose a greater threat to themself than to others.

A short time later, officials say a neighboring resident called 911, reporting smoke coming from the home. Negotiators attempted to contact the individual and tactical teams responded to the scene. Non-flammable chemical irritants were deployed into the residence in an attempt to get the person to leave the home. However, the residence became engulfed and sustained extensive damage.

Once the fire was put out, officials found an individual deceased inside the home. The victim's identity and the cause of death will be released by the medical examiner's office.

During the incident, residents in the neighborhood were told to shelter in place and that their gas service was going to be temporarily shut off.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the State Fire Marshal Division will be leading the investigation into the incident.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.

In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text "HelpLine" to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.