A troubled Minneapolis homeless encampment that has moved around to at least four locations in south Minneapolis since last summer was leveled by fire on Thursday afternoon.
The encampment was located on a vacant city-owned lot on East 28th Street between 11th and 12th avenues south after having been evicted by the City of Minneapolis from its third location a few blocks away at the beginning of February.
The fire broke out Thursday just after noon when it was initially reported that a large encampment area was on fire. People were reportedly heard screaming, and the fire was impacting nearby houses, according to dispatch audio. Responders indicated that residents at nearby homes were being evacuated.
Minneapolis fire personnel on site aired that propane tanks were heard exploding and that a cache of several more propane tanks were being impinged by the fire. The commander on site instructed firefighters to spray water from a distance to try and keep the tanks cool.
A second alarm was called for additional fire personnel and resources shortly thereafter.
The fire was eventually knocked down, and two people were reported to have been treated on site for minor injuries and smoke inhalation.
The fire left the encampment leveled and uninhabitable. The fire also damaged at least one nearby home that was left with melted siding.
The encampment at its various locations has been rife with trouble for months, including a shooting homicide in December as well as at least three other recent shootings and a string of other incidents such as shots fired, assaults, overdoses, stolen vehicles, mountains of trash, and the recovery of a deceased newborn in October.
Neighbors have repeatedly complained about the trash and biohazards generated by the camps.
In a recent press conference held after the third eviction, Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette said that there had been over 100 calls for police service between August and January at the first two locations of the encampment.
In January alone, the encampment had generated over 100 calls to 311 for neighborhood livability-type complaints, Barnette said. The encampment also had a viral illness outbreak in January (norovirus or similar) that sickened several people.
The current Minneapolis City Council, fueled by a contingent of vocal activists, has a majority of members who oppose encampment evictions and have been fighting Mayor Jacob Frey and the city over continued evictions.
Ward 9 City Council Member Jason Chavez has been advocating for ordinance changes that provide for semi-permanent encampments through “safe outdoor spaces” as well as requiring the city to give advance notice of encampment evictions and report on eviction “outcomes” to individuals.
Within two hours of the camp burning down Thursday, camp organizers had already begun setting up camp on another city-owned lot just a few blocks away on the 2800 block of 14th Avenue South, a half block from the Midtown Greenway, and were calling for donations of tents, blankets, cigarettes, and fire wood.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
