Two girls, ages 6 and 9, are both in critical condition after fire from a nearby vehicle spread to the van they were in Tuesday morning in Fridley.
The fire happened around 7:15 a.m. in the Walmart parking lot on University Avenue. Flames from a mini-van that caught fire spread to the mini-van with the girls inside. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office says the owner of the van where the fire originated was questioned at the scene and taken into custody on probable cause of "negligent fires." The 70-year old suspect's wife, was in the vehicle when it caught fire, but was able to get out.
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The girls' mother was inside the store shopping when the fire broke out and found the van in flames when she exited the store. Investigators say she was in the store for 45 minutes to an hour.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are also investigating.
