1 of recent fires at Stevens House deemed arson
The Stevens house was already under construction from a fire on Aug. 30, less than one month before the second fire on Sept. 20. (Jeff Ernewein/KSTP)
Authorities say one of the three recent fires at the historic John H. Stevens House Museum was intentionally set.
Tuesday, the Minneapolis Fire Department said the Sept. 20 fire was arson.
That fire was set just before 4 a.m. on a corner of the house’s porch.
The fire department says fire patterns and a positive indication for accelerant show that the fire was intentionally set.
RELATED: Minneapolis firefighters battle 2nd fire in less than a month at Stevens House Museum
Firefighters have been called to the home frequently over the past five weeks.
Crews responded to a fire there in the early morning hours of Aug. 30 and found flames on an exterior rear wall. The fire extended inside and caused “a good amount of damage,” according to the fire department.
Then, just this past Saturday, crews were called to the home again in the early-morning hours and found flames on the first and second floors, as well as the roof.
The cause of the Aug. 30 fire is undetermined while the report for Saturday’s fire is still pending, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board said a 6-foot perimeter fence was installed around the home after the Aug. 30 fire but the board is working to buy and install “a more permanent, non-climbable fence as soon as possible.”