2nd Person Dies After North Minneapolis Fire
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A beloved Minneapolis grandmother who was taken to the hospital after a fire that killed another woman last week has died from her injuries.
The fire happened early the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 23, on the 2100 block of Emerson Avenue North. Firefighters at the scene said it appeared the fire began on the first floor.
Relatives said 39-year-old Joy Walker died while trying to save Mary Thomas, who owned the home. Thomas had given Walker a place to live. Thomas's grandson and his cousin tried to save Thomas, as did Walker. Those on the scene said she went into the house a second time and died on the second floor.
Alika Galloway, pastor at the Kwanza Community Church, called the event "a great tragedy."
"(Joy) was kind, she was vivacious, very, very smart," Galloway said.
On Monday morning, authorities reported that the 78-year-old woman, who had been taken to the intensive care unit at the Hennepin County Medical Center, died of her injuries.
Walker and Thomas's deaths mark the second and third Minneapolis deaths as a result of fire in 2016.
The family lost their belongings in the fire, they are trying to figure out how to help Walker's children. A GoFundMe has been created for Walker's family. There is also a GoFundMe page set up for Thomas.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said.
