One person was injured after jumping from a second-floor window to escape a fire that broke out in a boarded-up apartment building in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. The incident occurred just before 6:15 a.m. at a property near the Leaning Tower of Pizza, where firefighters responded to reports of smoke emanating from the structure.
According to the Minneapolis Fire Department, several individuals were inside the building during the blaze. One person leaped from an upper story window and was later evaluated by paramedics from Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Fortunately, that individual is currently in stable condition.
Fire crews worked quickly to evacuate the building as the flames spread to all four floors, resulting in a partial collapse of the roof and an exterior wall in the alley. Deputy Chief Rita Juran confirmed that they are investigating the possibility of other occupants still being inside the building, stating, "We have unconfirmed reports that there may have been other people in the building. We cannot confirm this at the time. We have called the state fire marshal to the scene to help with the investigation."
Residents in the area were shocked by the incident. Michelle Davis, who lives next door to the building, expressed her concern, saying, "I looked out my window and I just saw fire spewing out of the first, second, and third floors. I just hope no one else was in there… It’s known that the homeless come and sleep at night to get out of the cold."
Fortunately, the fire did not spread to adjacent buildings, and the fire department confirmed that no other structures were damaged in the incident. The boarded-up apartment is owned by C. David George, and city records indicate a troubling history with the property, showing 121 violations dating back to June 2000.
As the investigation continues, local authorities are working to determine the full extent of the situation and whether anyone else was inside the building at the time of the fire. This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.