Another fire at Phillips neighborhood homeless encampment frustrates neighbors

A homeless encampment in the East Phillips neighborhood.
A homeless encampment in the East Phillips neighborhood. Photo credit (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Crews battling another explosion and fire at an encampment in South Minneapolis Monday afternoon near 29th Street and 14th Avenue.

For people living in the Phillips neighborhood, it's another frustrating situation with a fire at a homeless encampment and another propane tank exploding.

Luckily, Minneapolis Fire says there were no serious injuries. However, they've seen this again, again, and again.

WCCO's Susie Jones alked to one person in the neighborhood who heard it happen.

"I was taking a little nap and I heard, I heard an explosion," he says, adding they're feeling ignored by the city.

"It's insanity," the man told WCCO. "Our City Councilman Jason Chavez is also our health and safety person, and he is ignoring the health and safety of unhoused and housed residents in Phillips."

Gary Hoffman delivers food to the camp, and came upon the fire.

"It's tough," says Hoffman. "I've been doing this for several years, and there doesn't seem to be much change in any, you know, getting people their appropriate housing or the mental health services and the addiction services that everybody needs in order to restart their lives. I mean, it just seems like a never ending game out here."

Minneapolis Fire crews were also called to another encampment near East Lake and Columbus about 20 minutes earlier. No injuries were reported in either.

Featured Image Photo Credit: (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)