Man Rescued From Burning Home In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A homeowner had to be rescued after a fire consumed his house Tuesday morning on the north side of Minneapolis Tuesday morning.

Crews responded to the 4800 block of Bryant Avenue North at about 7 a.m. after a passenger on a Metro Transit but noticed smoke coming from a home and called 911. When crews arrived, they broke through a front door and found a locked bedroom surrounded by smoke.

Crews busted the door open and found a man sleeping. Authorities rescued the man, who did not need medical attention, and were able to knock down the fire quickly.

"I woke up to the guy banging on the door, wake up, wake up, you know, coming through is anybody here. You know you've got to get out your house is on fire, your house is on fire. You've got to get out," said homeowner Bruce Barton.

"He did have fire all around him in the walls and the ceiling and was completely unaware of it. He was extremely fortunate, lucky that the caller went by and we were here as quickly as we were," said Minneapolis Fire Battalion Chief Kathleen Mullen.

Fire officials estimate that the man had less than five minutes before the fire would've broken through the walls of his bedroom. The home is now uninhabitable as the upstairs is completely destroyed.

The homeowner was able to get his cello out despite suffering from some minor smoke inhalation.

Authorities said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.