Minneapolis fire officials sharing more information about a large fire at a southside homeless encampment Thursday.
The fire broke out about 12:30 p.m. at an encampment on East 28th Street in South Minneapolis. It went to a two alarm fire because the conditions made it more difficult to fight.
"We got very lucky," says Minneapolis Fire Chief Brian Tyner. "Yes, winds would have complicated the situation. Even if this would have happened in the middle of the night, I think we could have had a very different outcome."
Two people were injured and there is still no cause for the fire.
The camp known as Nenookaasi was cleared recently at a location near there. It was the third time in four weeks the city cleared the migrating residents' camp. City leaders said the camp posed health and safety issues, while organizers, residents and supporters of the camp criticized the city for closing it without a plan. At one point, the camp was home to more than 100 people.
WCCO's Susie Jones talked to one of the residents at the camp who said t was terrifying when it went off and spread very quickly. She said they're trying to look for somewhere else to live.
Mayor Jacob Frey says they are working with housing advocates to try to find shelter for the 50 or so residents. He adds that large encampments with open flames are "never safe."
It was the third time in four weeks the city cleared the migrating residents' camp. City leaders said the camp posed health and safety issues, while organizers, residents and supporters of the camp criticized the city for closing it without a plan. At one point, the camp was home to more than 100 people.