Firefighters extinguish fire at northeast Minneapolis homeless encampment

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire Monday evening at a homeless encampment near the Quarry shopping center in northeast Minneapolis

Minneapolis Fire Department crews were called to the encampment situated between the shopping center parking lot and Interstate 35 around 6 p.m., Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker said.

Firefighters had to climb over a fence and stretch their hose lines for a “long distance” to reach the blaze, Rucker said.

Fire officials say that an uncontrolled campfire made of wooden pallets spread through several tents and started surrounding trees and brush on fire.

A propane tank near the tents also started on fire and led to a 911 caller reporting an “explosion” before firefighters arrived.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire.