Lake Street Kmart fire in Minneapolis largely extinguished; officials confirm no one inside
MINNEAPOLIS — Crews say they've extinguished the bulk of a two-alarm fire that broke out early Friday morning at the site of the former Kmart building on Lake Street in south Minneapolis.
Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker with the Minneapolis Fire Department says crews arrived just after 5 a.m. to find fire and smoke pouring out of the rear of the building, with flames already breaching the roof.
Three aerial water towers were brought to the scene to help douse the flames and stop the fire's spread inside the building. Utility workers were also on hand in case gas and electricity needed to be shut off.
Rucker said they implemented a "surround and drown" strategy because multiple walls had collapsed and they didn't want to risk the safety of firefighters. A second alarm was called for extra personnel and equipment.
It took several hours before firefighters could safely get through the rubble to see if there was anyone inside, with MFD confirming just before 9:30 a.m. that it was indeed empty. Rucker said earlier the building was locked and secured with no signs of forced entry.
According to the city, staff started demolishing several unstable walls inside the building on Friday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to a statement from the fire department.
In the next city council cycle, officials will start seeking approval of the demolition contract, which has already been bid out. Afterwards, the demolition can officially begin, starting with abatement and disposal of hazardous materials.
The Kmart closed in 2020, and the building temporarily housed the Lake Street Post Office after it was destroyed in the uprising following the murder of George Floyd.
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After the post office relocated, the building attracted squatters, and its parking lot and areas nearby had been the sites of homeless encampments. Rucker says MFD sees no connection between the fire and the encampments, which were cleared out by police two days ago.
Minneapolis bought the land in March 2020, and city leaders and community members have been debating its future ever since.
