A routine fire call in south Minneapolis turned grim Friday when firefighters discovered a woman's body inside a second-floor apartment on the 2100 block of Harriet Avenue, city officials said. Crews from the Minneapolis Fire Department recovered the body at the scene, and officials have not yet released the cause of death. Two residents were displaced by the blaze and the American Red Cross was notified to help them find temporary shelter. Investigators stayed on scene as city personnel worked to piece together what happened.
Responders' account
According to KARE 11, crews arrived Friday to find the fire on the building's second floor. Firefighters went inside, located the woman in the unit and recovered her body. The outlet reported that the American Red Cross was contacted and two residents were temporarily displaced. “Our thoughts are with the family,” Interim Chief Melanie Rucker said, according to the station.
Investigation and leadership
City officials say the investigation is active and they have not released more information about the victim or the circumstances around the fire. The City of Minneapolis notes that Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker is serving as interim chief while the department conducts a national search for a permanent leader. The department has not provided a timeline for when investigators might release their findings.
Local context
This is not the first deadly residential fire to shake Minneapolis this year. In late March, a South Minneapolis house fire killed a man in his 60s and prompted renewed calls for working smoke alarms and clear escape plans. Together, the recent tragedies highlight the stakes for residents in multiunit housing as investigators work to determine what happened on Harriet Avenue.
