South Minneapolis fire displaces 24 residents
A fire in a 10‑unit, three‑story apartment building on the 2500 block of Portland Avenue South in Minneapolis around 2 p.m. Monday displaced 17 adults, seven children and three pets, after firefighters found flames burning in the attic. Minneapolis Fire Department Interim Chief Melanie Rucker said roughly 54 firefighters responded, a mayday was briefly called when a firefighter got smoke in their eyes, no injuries were reported, and a preliminary investigation points to a possible electrical cause with no fire stops in the building aiding the spread.
📌 Key Facts
- Fire was reported shortly before 2 p.m. Monday at a 10‑unit, three‑story apartment building on the 2500 block of Portland Avenue South in Minneapolis.
- All 17 adults, seven children and three pets living in the building were displaced; no resident or firefighter injuries are currently reported.
- About 54 firefighters responded, initially unable to see flames until they opened the ceiling and found an active attic fire; a brief mayday was called after a firefighter got smoke in their eyes and then canceled.
- Interim Fire Chief Melanie Rucker said preliminary findings suggest a possible electrical issue in the attic and noted the apparent absence of fire stops allowed the fire to travel through the building.
📊 Relevant Data
In the United States, electrical distribution and lighting equipment was one of the top five causes of home fires, accounting for approximately 9% of residential building fires between 2018 and 2022.
In 2023, individuals aged 75 to 84 in the United States were 2.9 times more likely to die in a fire than the general population, with fire death rates increasing with age among older adults.
Older Adult Fire Death Risk (2014-2023) — USFA.FEMA.gov
Fire death rates in rural areas of the United States are significantly higher per capita than in non-rural areas, with rural rates often double those in urban settings based on data from 2009-2019.
THE RURAL FIRE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES — USFA.FEMA.gov
African Americans in the United States have nearly twice the overall fire death rate compared to the general population, representing 24% of home fire deaths while comprising 13% of the population based on recent data.
Data shows that fatality rate from residential fires nearly twice national average among African Americans — Smart Cities Dive
The Ventura Village neighborhood in Minneapolis, which includes the 2500 block of Portland Avenue South, has a diverse population with approximately 60% people of color, high poverty rates around 40%, and a significant immigrant community including Somali residents.
Minneapolis Neighborhood Demographics Dashboard — City of Minneapolis
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