Crews: Tough Time Fighting Fire Because Of Hoarding

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A fire that happened overnight in Minneapolis was made more difficult for crews because the home was filled with too much stuff.

Firefighters said it started in a bedroom of a home on 70 Melbourne Ave. SE around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The only person inside at the time, a woman, made it out safely and called 911.

The fire spread to the attic and damaged the back-half of the house.

Firefighters said they had a hard time getting in the front door because of all the stuff in the home. They said they had to use the porch window to get in because of the hoarding. The fire also kept sparking back up.

"Tragically, about a year ago, we did have someone who died in a home that was filled with ... stuff," said Assistant Chief Cherie Penn of the Minneapolis Fire Department.

Firefighters called for more help once they saw inside the home, so the fire could be attacked from the outside as well. Neighboring houses are close, and there was a risk that the fire would spread.

The back of the home is heavily damaged and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The woman was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Officials say having a house over-filled with anything is illegal.

"There are housing inspection code issues that all homeowners are required to follow," Penn said.