Five dead in Minneapolis high-rise fire

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

Five dead in Minneapolis high-rise fire
The fire was in a building in the 600 block of Cedar Avenue S.
By Paul Walsh and Tim Harlow Star Tribune staff NOVEMBER 27, 2019 -- 9:37AM

Five people died early Wednesday in a fire on the 14th floor of a Minneapolis public housing high rise, and three others were hospitalized, authorities said.

The three-alarm blaze in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood broke out around 4 a.m. in a 24-story building in the 600 block of Cedar Avenue S. near downtown Minneapolis and was extinguished within 30 minutes, the Minneapolis Fire Department said.

"Very tragic night at the beginning of a holiday weekend," Fire Chief John Fruetel said during a predawn news media briefing outside the building.

Crews were called around 4 a.m. and arrived to find flames shooting out of windows on the 14th floor. They encountered heavy smoke as they got to the floor to search for residents.

The 191-unit building for low-income clients is operated by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and is at full capacity. Most units have either one or two adult residents, said agency communications director Jeff Horwich. Many of them are of Somali descent, with a smaller number of Korean background, Horwich said.
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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

pwalsh@startribune.com 612-673-4482 http://twitter.com/walshpj

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. Harlow also covers general assignment and breaking news and weather.

harlow@startribune.com 612-673-7768 http://twitter.com/timstrib

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-fire-five-dead-high-rise-building/565521452/