Blaze Destroys Brooklyn Park Home, Sparks Grass Fire
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (WCCO) -- Thursday's high winds hampered firefighters' efforts to put out a fire in Brooklyn Park.
The flames not only destroyed a two-story home but also spread to a grassy field nearby.
The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. at a home along Georgia Avenue North. An adult couple and their infant child were inside.
Crews think the fire may have started outside the home and spread quickly because of the high winds Thursday morning. Crews also said the extremely dry conditions lately made matters worse.
Neighbors were frightened their home might be next.
"My next door neighbor was pounding on my door," said neighbor Nick Kamp. "Embers were landing on my house. I thought for sure my house would catch on fire."
Kamp's home next door escaped with very little damage in comparison.
One of the homeowners said the sound of windows cracking from the heat is what woke them up. They looked out and saw a bright orange glow along the back of their home, grabbed their 5-month-old baby and ran out.
When firefighters arrived, fire had spread to every room of the house.
The wind made it difficult for firefighters to get a handle on the fire, and then it spread to a grassy area at nearby Oak Grove Park, eventually covering 25 acres.
"It's absolutely horrific, devastating. Almost something out of a movie, I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing," said Kamp.
Nearly a half dozen other fire departments were called in to help Brooklyn Park Fire department.
The house next door had damage to the siding, but other than that, no other homes were affected.
The couple does have insurance and are staying with family while they get things sorted out. They are thankful they all made it out without injury.
There is still no word yet on what started the fire.
