Homeless Camp In Minneapolis Burns Down

MINNEAPOLIS — A fire that burned down a homeless camp in Minneapolis on Thursday threatened to spread to propane tanks and nearby houses on Thursday. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

There were no serious injuries reported, though two people were treated at the scene by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries.

At a news conference, Mayor Jacob Frey thanked the first responders and expressed his view that homeless encampments are neither safe for the people living there nor safe for people living in homes and buildings nearby.

At about noon Thursday, crews from the Minneapolis Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at an encampment in the 1100 block of East 28th Street.

At the scene, fire crews found "extensive flames" burning in the camp, which threatened multiple propane cylinders of various sizes on the grounds and the houses and buildings nearby.

Multiple fire crews laid lines and were able to quickly extinguish the fire with only minimal damage caused to the surrounding structures, investigators said.

The City’s Homeless Response Team and outreach workers from other organizations, have been on site of the fire, offering to connect people to shelter and providing clothing and water to those affected, according to officials.

A Metro Transit bus was also on the scene to provide a warm place for people after the camp was evacuated.

City crews will secure the site with fencing and test environmental conditions while the cause of the fire is investigated.