One person was killed and a firefighter was injured in a fire Saturday morning at a boarded duplex in the 2100 block of N. Fremont Avenue in Minneapolis, officials said.
One killed, firefighter hurt in fire at boarded north Minneapolis duplex
The firefighter was taken to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns.
December 24, 2022 at 7:28PM
Minneapolis fire crews responded around 7 a.m. Saturday to a report of a fire at a 2½-story duplex and saw fire on the first and second floors at the building's rear, the Fire Department said.
Crews removed boards and went inside through the rear door. Firefighters found someone on the first floor, carried the person out of the building and performed CPR. North Memorial Health paramedics declared the person dead.
Fire Department spokesperson Melanie Rucker said the victim may have been a homeless person trying to escape the cold. Temperatures reached a low of minus 12 degrees Friday, according to National Weather Service data.
That cold caused problems for firefighters, Rucker said. Water flowing from their hoses froze. Ice and snow made it hard for crews to gain footing and douse flames.
"The ice and water and freezing makes everything difficult," Rucker said. "We're just doing our best to protect the public. Just be patient with us; our fire crews are working really hard."
One firefighter was transported to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns after falling through a hole burned through the first floor to the basement, officials said. He was rescued by his nearby crew members and was in stable condition.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A Metro Transit bus was sent to provide shelter for crews because of the cold weather.
More than 200 objects dating from the 1300s to the early 1900s are the gift of New York collector Alice S. Kandell.
