UPDATE: Police say investigation into suspicious garage fire in Brooklyn Center underway
[anvplayer video=”4965167″ station=”998122″]
Brooklyn Center police are investigating what they are now calling a suspicious fire that happened in Brooklyn Center early Wednesday morning.
The fire started around 3:45 a.m. near 69th and Morgan avenues.
According to an update Wednesday afternoon, firefighters quickly extinguished the fire but reported a detached three-car garage and three vehicles had been destroyed in the fire.
Additionally, the update stated no one was hurt in the incident and that firefighters had rescued three dogs and five puppies from the residence.
"We ran back inside a couple times. We ran out and then my husband was like, ‘Oh my gosh, the puppies,’" said Deana Molla, the homeowner. "We have four puppies in our garage and we quickly ripped open our fence and ran to the back door and black smoke came billowing out."
[KSTP/ Chris Knoll]
According to Brooklyn Center police, officers at the scene observed what appeared to be fresh spray paint on the garage, and said a "Trump 2020" campaign sign in the yard had been destroyed.
"To be honest, we didn’t feel threatened. We live in America," Molla said. "We live in the greatest country on earth and everybody has the right to say what they feel."
"My son’s bedroom, his window is facing the garage. My son smelled like smoke this morning when I was putting him down to sleep after the whole thing, he smelled like smoke, so it just blows my mind that someone would stoop this low," she added.
Brooklyn Center police reported the Minnesota Arson Reward Project is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the fire. The Arson Hotline number is 1-800-723-2020.
An earlier version of this report appears below.
Firefighters rescued three dogs and six puppies from a Brooklyn Center house fire early Wednesday morning.
A KSTP crew at the scene learned the fire started around 3:45 a.m. near 69th and Morgan avenues.
The homeowners had already escaped from the house fire when firefighters arrived at the scene.
The fire was mostly contained to the home’s garage. Some trucks and a camper were also damaged.
Firefighters said no one was hurt.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.