Search complete, Minneapolis apartment blaze’s toll stands at two dead, many displaced

Minneapolis fire crews have finished searching the rubble of an apartment building burned in a blaze that killed two people and displaced dozens of residents, Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said Friday.

Tyner said the bodies found Thursday were those of a man and woman whom the building manager said were missing. Both were on the fourth floor where the roof collapsed in the fire.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has not released the victims’ names.

“I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims of this tragedy, and I pray that you find comfort in the coming days,” Tyner said before thanking firefighters.

“As a firefighter, one of the toughest things that we have to deal with is the knowledge that we are not able to save every life.”

A caller reported about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday that someone had started a fire in the building south of downtown Minneapolis in the 1500 block of 11th Ave. S. Tyner did not have details on the caller but said investigators may speak with them.

While the cause of the fire was not yet clear, investigators suspect arson.

Emergency workers arrived to find the building engulfed in flames. Residents hung out of third-floor windows, calling for help, as flames climbed up a rear stairwell toward the roof. Three firefighter crews battled the blaze from inside the building until they were ordered outside.

“It’s one of our most challenging fires that we’ve had,” Tyner said. “A building of that size that’s not sprinklered, of that age and build, that can be a big challenge.”

He said the blaze was already too large for firefighters to make a difference when they arrived.

“If [the commander] had not [decided to fight the fire from outside], we would likely be here talking about deceased firefighters in addition to the tragic loss of these two victims,” Tyner said.

Two adults and a teenager were hospitalized for burns suffered in the fire. Another person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. All were in stable but serious condition Tuesday. Tyner said he had no updates on their conditions.

The fire displaced at least 27 people, prompting aid from Metro Transit and the Red Cross.

Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker said the deaths were the second and third fire fatalities in Minneapolis this year.

Staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this report.