Big Fire at St. Louis Park Apartment Building: What Happened?

What Is the Main News?

Firefighters are busy putting out a big fire at an apartment building in a place called St. Louis Park.

When and Where Did It Start?

• The city of St. Louis Park said the fire was reported at 4:47 p.m.
• It happened at the Helix Apartments, which is on the 7500 block of Highway 7.
• When fire crews got there, they saw a fire that looked like it started on the third-floor balcony of the building.
  • The city says this has not yet been confirmed (meaning they are still checking if that is true).

Is the Fire Under Control?

• St. Louis Park Fire said the fire was under control as of 8:30 p.m.
• Some firefighters stayed at the scene to:
  • Put out "hot spots" (small areas that are still burning or hot)
  • Do an "overhaul" (a careful check to make sure the fire is completely out)

How Big Was the Response?

• It was a three-alarm fire (this just means it was a big fire that needed extra help).
• About 20 fire departments sent firefighters to help contain and extinguish the fire.

Were People Hurt?

• One person was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening (they are expected to be okay).
• Two firefighters were treated right at the scene for heat-related injuries (they got too hot while working).

How Many Homes Were Affected?

• About 90 apartment units (apartments where people live) were affected by the fire.

Help for People Who Had to Leave

• The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army are helping people who had to leave their homes with:
  • Shelter (a safe place to stay)
  • Immediate needs (things they need right away)
• Right now, the city does not yet know:
  • The exact number of people who had to leave
  • Whether some residents will be able to go back to the apartment

Important Point: This is a developing Breaking News story. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is still learning more, so some details may change.

A Resident Shares His Story

A resident named Chris talked to reporter Harrison Klopp:

• He said: "I started hearing the alarms go off. Anyone who lives in an apartment building like this—the first thing you question is if it’s real. Fortunately I took it seriously, me and the dog got out right away, and we got out to the front of the building and could see the flames on the end there. It was just insane."
• Chris watched to see if firefighters could save his apartment.
• He said: "So prayers that I’m able to get back in at some point."

There is also a viewer-submitted video showing the scene (you can watch it in the original report).

Summary

A large fire broke out at the Helix Apartments in St. Louis Park around 4:47 p.m. and was under control by 8:30 p.m. Around 20 fire departments helped fight the three-alarm fire. One person went to the hospital with minor injuries, and two firefighters were treated for heat issues. About 90 apartments were affected, and groups like the Red Cross are helping displaced residents. A resident named Chris and his dog got out safely and hope to return. This is still a developing story.

FAQ

1. What is a three-alarm fire?
It is a way to say the fire was big and dangerous enough that firefighters needed to call in extra help from many departments.

2. What does "under control" mean?
It means the fire is no longer spreading and firefighters are managing it, but they may still be putting out small hot spots.

3. How can people get help if they were displaced?
The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army are assisting with shelter and immediate needs.

4. Is the cause of the fire known?
Not yet. It looked like it started on a third-floor balcony, but the city says that is not confirmed.