1 dead, 1 hurt following early-morning encampment fire in downtown St. Paul

Rebecca Omastiak
[KSTP/ Chris Knoll]

St. Paul police and fire officials are investigating after an early-morning fire Wednesday that left one person dead at an encampment downtown.

According to St. Paul police, officials were called to the encampment—located on the north side of Shepard Road between Jackson Street and North Sibley Street—at about 6:30 a.m. on a report of a fire that caused injuries. Authorities earlier reported the call came in at about 7:30 a.m.

Members of the St. Paul Fire Department were able to extinguish the fire. A preliminary investigation revealed one person died and another person was hurt following the incident.

Police said homicide and arson investigators were at the scene and are working with fire investigators to determine the official cause of the fire.

In an update Wednesday, the St. Paul Fire Department reported multiple propane tanks and heaters were found near the suspected origin of the fire.

More information is expected to be released when it is available.

Shepard Road was temporarily closed in the area due to the investigation.