Firefighters battle blaze at Minneapolis homeless encampment

Firefighters report no injuries.

December 17, 2021 at 4:01AM
Minneapolis firefighters extinguished a fire Thursday night at a homeless encampment off Washington Avenue N. near the Mississippi River. (Provided by the Minneapolis Fire Department/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minneapolis firefighters were called Thursday night to a homeless encampment in a dense wooded area near 3636 Washington Av. N.

When crews arrived about 7 p.m., flames had engulfed an abandoned, dilapidated shed at the base of the encampment along with nearby debris.

No one was at the encampment when crews arrived, and no injuries were reported.

Crews extinguished the fire and washed down the debris to ensure the fire was completely out, according to a statement from the Fire Department.

about the writer

about the writer

Mary Lynn Smith

Reporter

Mary Lynn Smith is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. She previously covered St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County. Before that, she worked in Duluth where she covered local and state government and business. She frequently has written about the outdoors.

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