4 Hospitalized After Apartment Fire In Brooklyn Park
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities said four people were hospitalized after fire broke out early Tuesday morning at an apartment complex in Brooklyn Park.
Crews were called to the Huntington Place Apartments on the 5800 block of 73rd Avenue just after 1 a.m. When authorities arrived, smoke was showing from a building that had to be evacuated. Residents could be seen jumping out of windows to escape while crews rescued other residents who were trapped in their apartments.
"I saw fire inside and people were breaking windows, jumping out and yelling 'Help me,'" said resident Kesh'on Walker.
Fire officials said it doesn't appear anybody was seriously hurt and no firefighters were hurt battling the blaze, but four victims were taken to the hospital. Displaced residents went to their cars to warm up and some went into buses that were brought in as temporary shelter.
"When we have multiple residents our first priority is safety so when we saw (people) hanging out from windows we go ladders out and started rescuing people," said Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Mike Maurer. "The fire appeared to start in a hallway but we're unsure what was on fire. It did trap a few residents so they were rescued first."
Fire officials said the cause is under investigation. Some residents have already been allowed go back inside their apartments.
The American Red Cross is assisting three families, involving 10 adults and four children, who have been displaced as a result of the fire.