A fire that heavily damaged a north Minneapolis structure that houses several small businesses is believed by many in the area to have been intentionally set.
Members of a neighborhood watch program saying about six of their volunteer group were in a lot across the street from the building early Monday morning when they saw a maroon truck that appeared to be brand-new drive through an alley next to the building located near the intersection of 44th Street and Penn Ave.
“Within a minute, or so, there’s smoke coming out of the roof,” said Nate Pentz, a member of the group that he says includes about 250 people throughout north Minneapolis connected through social media.The brick building remains standing but several of the businesses were gutted. Crews were installing plywood panels on top of the scorched and broken windows.
Officials have not yet identified the cause of the fire. It’s not known if the fire is related to the rash of violence that spread through the city during wide protests of the police-involved death of George Floyd.
“I don’t know who did it, I don’t know why they did it,” said Brady Yeary, who owns a tile and stone company that has officers in the corner of the structure. “I don’t think the building spontaneously combusted,” he said.
Fire crews were at the scene quickly after the initial call not long after 1:00 a.m. Monday, and the flames were out by midmorning.
Yeary, who said he lives about 300 yards away from the building, said others who owned businesses in the building were there quickly to help.
“It’s been a long week, this whole city has been through more tragedy in the last seven days that anybody should ever have to endure. We’re all tired, we’re all fried, but I don’t think we’re defeated,” he said.“If anybody out there listening to this (interview on WCCO radio) and feel hopeless, don’t. Because we got each other, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge, who’s doing what, because your neighbors are there, your friends are there and we’re in this together and we can make it work.”
