Cause of fire at former Kmart in Minneapolis undetermined, city says

Ashley Halbach KSTP

(KSTP)

The Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) says that their investigation into the fire that broke out at the former Kmart in Minneapolis on Friday is complete, but both the origin and cause of the fire are undermined.

Additionally, MFD says with the help of some other departments, they searched for any possible victims in the collapsed area of the building using cadaver dogs and infrared technology, and no victims were found. Initially, Assistant Minneapolis Fire Chief Melanie Rucker said at a press conference on the day of the fire that searching in the collapsed section for any trapped victims was too dangerous and difficult.

The building was set to be demolished in the spring. MFD says the start date and timeline for the demolition will be released in a few days.

The City of Minneapolis is still taking feedback from the community about how to develop the site after the former store is gone.