Six semi-tractors burn in Northeast Minneapolis railyard fire
Minneapolis Fire Department crews responded around 12:15 a.m. Saturday to a railyard at 29th Avenue NE and Central Avenue NE, where six semi-tractors were found fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes and reported no injuries. The railroad company told officials there were no hazardous materials in the immediate area, and Xcel Energy was called in to shut down a nearby electrical line that had been exposed to the fire. The cause remains under investigation, and no damage estimate has been released. For Northeast residents and businesses that rely on freight and truck access, the incident highlights the fire risk tied to aging equipment and dense industrial corridors that sit close to homes and commercial strips.
đ Key Facts
- Six semi-tractors burned in a railyard fire at 29th Avenue NE and Central Avenue NE in Minneapolis.
- Minneapolis Fire Department contained the fire in about 20 minutes after arriving around 12:15 a.m. Saturday.
- Railroad officials reported no hazardous materials in the area, and Xcel Energy shut down a nearby electrical line exposed to the flames.
- No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under active investigation.
đ Relevant Data
From 2018 to 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 15,462 fires involving large trucks, which account for 8% of highway vehicle fires.
Vehicle fires report | NFPA Research â NFPA
Mechanical failure or malfunction was a leading factor in 44% of large truck fires during 2018-2022.
Vehicle fires report | NFPA Research â NFPA
Fires in large trucks often start in the engine area, running gear, or wheel area, with tire ignition being more common in large truck fires than in passenger cars.
Vehicle fires report | NFPA Research â NFPA
From 2018 to 2022, vehicle fires caused an estimated annual average of 643 civilian deaths, with large truck fires contributing to 46 deaths per year.
Vehicle fires report | NFPA Research â NFPA
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