Fire Damages Edina Apartment Complex

A fire burned through an apartment complex around 11 p.m. Tuesday in Edina.

The Edina Fire Chief says the fire badly damaged the three units at 4141 Parklawn Avenue, and crews had to cut electricity and gas to the building, so residents weren’t allowed to stay. Hundreds of people were displaced.

Edina Police reported heavy smoke from the first floor.  Flames quickly climbed up the building, reaching past the top floor of the three-story building. After about an hour, crews were able to put out the flames. 10 fire departments responded, and crews worked for several more hours to check for fire extension and extinguish any hot spots.

"The fire alarms worked throughout which allowed for a safe evacuation," said Edina Fire Chief Marty Scheerer. "But if this building had sprinklers, it is very possible the fire could have been contained to the one unit." The apartment was built in 1969.

One person was treated on the scene and released for smoke inhalation. An Eden Prairie firefighter was transported to Fairview Southdale Hospital for a knee injury. An elderly woman was also transported to a hospital for exhaustion.

The fire began in a first-floor apartment and caused significant fire damage to the two apartments above it and moderate fire damage to three additional apartments. Dozens of other apartments sustained smoke damage. The tenant of the unit where the fire started was not home.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army offered help to those who needed it.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.