South Mpls Apartment Fire Cause 'Undetermined'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Firefighters battled flames at a south Minneapolis apartment complex Monday afternoon and one person was brought to the hospital, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to the fire, which started in an apartment complex located at 920 19 St. East, shortly after 4 p.m., the Minneapolis Fire Department said.

When crews arrived at the scene, they saw flames sprouting from two windows on the third floor of the three-story building.

By 4:36 p.m., three alarms had sounded due to the possibility that the fire had spread. As a precaution, additional crews were called to the scene, the department said.

The complex has 19 units, according to its management. Much of the apartment was evacuated when firefighters took to the flames inside the building. No firefighters were injured battling the flames.

The Red Cross also responded to assist the occupants who were evacuated.

An ambulance brought one person to the Hennepin County Medical Center for possible smoke inhalation, the department said. No one else was injured.

According to the Minneapolis Arson Unit, the fire started in a third floor bedroom. Because investigators were unable to find competent ignition sources in the apartment, the cause of the fire has been classified as "undetermined".