Fire Damages Minneapolis Recycling Facility

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities say a recycling facility in Minneapolis suffered significant damage and a nearby apartment building had to be evacuated after a large fire Tuesday morning.

Crews responded to the blaze at Scrappy's Northern Metal Recycling on the 1800 block of 2nd Street North in Minneapolis at about 1:10 a.m. When crews arrived, smoke was coming out of the north side of the building and flames were showing from the roof.

Authorities evacuated residents of a nearby apartment building as a precautionary measure while they fought the fire. Authorities said nobody was inside the building when the fire started and nobody was hurt in the blaze.

Authorities closed off West Broadway Avenue from 2nd Street to Washington Avenue as they battled the fire, but had the roads back open in time for the morning rush hour. The residents at the nearby apartment complex were let back into their units Monday morning.

Fire officials said Tuesday the extremely cold conditions complicated firefighting efforts.

"It's very difficult with the water spray that's coming back. It's hard on the equipment and it's definitely hard on the person that's out here fighting the fire," said Perry Ebner, Minneapolis fire marshal. "Again that's why I usually call for a second alarm, to replace the firefighters that have been down here in the cold. They're working really hard, they're doing a good job. My hat is off to them."

Authorities said no other nearby buildings were damaged and what caused the fire is still under investigation.