4 firefighters treated after battling north Minneapolis fire

Multiple firefighters were taken to a hospital Thursday morning after battling a fire in Minneapolis’ Hawthorne neighborhood.

The Minneapolis Fire Department says crews responded to a fire near 22nd Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North shortly before 9 a.m.

Officials say the building was vacant and boarded up but crews searched for possible squatters due to reports that several people went running from the building. However, crews didn’t find anyone inside.

The fire was then upgraded to a second alarm as flames spread to the roof.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames but four firefighters were taken to a hospital — three to be treated for heat exhaustion and evaluated, and one for a minor back injury. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.