2 dead in Minneapolis apartment fire, work to identify cause continues

Two people have died after a Minneapolis apartment building went up in flames Tuesday night.

Fire officials previously said that three people — two adults and a child — were being treated for burns and another adult was treated for smoke inhalation. All four victims were said to be in serious but stable condition.

The Minneapolis Fire Department conducted another search Thursday morning at the scene of 11th Avenue South near East 15th Street in the Elliot Park neighborhood.

After searching through the rubble, they found an older man dead.

In a later update Thursday, fire crews found a second person dead on the fourth floor under the rubble from the roof collapse. The person’s identity has not yet been released.

Minneapolis fire officials say crews will continue to search the building during the daylight and will use cadaver dogs to make sure there are no other victims.

Ricky Thompson was out with family when he learned his apartment building was on fire.

“Got a FaceTime from my brother-in-law that said our apartment was on fire,” said Thompson. “When I walked up, the whole hallway engulfed.”

Everything that Thompson owns is still inside the apartment.

“Just trying to get back on my feet,” Thompson said.

Just after 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Minneapolis Fire responded to reports of “someone possibly starting a fire” as heavy flames spread to the four-story building. Along with the two people who died, Minneapolis Fire says four others were hurt and dozens more were forced from their home.

“We were called and responded to the fire,” said David Schoeneck, Red Cross volunteer.

A few miles away at the Minnehaha United Methodist Church, Schoeneck says he and the Red Cross are helping provide shelter and other basic necessities to some of the displaced.

“All of those things to make sure that people will receive the help that they need in a very trying time for them,” Schoeneck said. “It’s very rewarding work.”

Back in the Elliot Park neighborhood, Thompson and many others who call the apartment home are waiting to get word on when they get to see if anything inside is salvageable. In the meantime, Thompson is staying with loved ones and leaning on positivity to make it through.

“I’m just appreciative that I’m still alive, I wasn’t here to see it. All that stuff could be replaced,” Thompson said.

Minneapolis Fire is still investigating the cause and trying to figure out if it was in fact set on purpose.

Click here if you’d like to help out Thompson and his family.