Fire that damaged historic village hall in Maple Grove investigated as arson

Authorities said a fire that severely damaged a historic building in Maple Grove may have been intentionally set and are asking for help identifying a vehicle seen in the area moments before the blaze.

Crews went to the historic Village Hall in Lakeview Knolls Park about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday after getting calls about smoke. They arrived to find flames shooting from a window of Maple Grove's former primary government building, said Fire and Rescue Chief Tim Bush.

Investigators said nearby surveillance video captured a vehicle that could be a 2018 to 2022 white Chevrolet Equinox with dark rims and a black antenna on the roof. Detectives are asking residents who live in the area of the 9300 block of Fernbrook Lane to check video doorbell and camera footage captured between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. for images of the vehicle, which may help police identify a suspect.

Detectives did not say why they believed the fire was a case of arson.

The fire is believed to have started in the basement of the two-story structure and extended to the main floor before crews were able to extinguish the blaze, Bush said.

The building, which did not have a sprinkler system, may be a total loss, he said.

"I don't know how much of the building is salvageable," Bush said.

From 1939 to 1975, the historic building was the primary government building for the city that grew into the large northwest metro suburb, according to the the Maple Grove Historical Preservation Society. It was originally located near the city's gravel pits before it was moved to the park, Bush said.

The hall also served as a school. One firefighter on the scene Tuesday night told Bush he attended kindergarten in the building. Most recently, the building had been used for park programming.

Maple Grove investigators said they don't know if Tuesday's fire was connected to an Oct. 2 fire at Lynde Greenhouse. Authorities deemed it to be caused by arson and have have identified five minors as persons of interest. That case remains under investigation, officials said.

Tips can be phoned into 763-494-6237 or emailed to Sam Valerius at svalerius@maplegrovemn.gov. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at 1-800-222-8477.