Fire Turns To Flood At One Of Minnesota’s Largest Apartment Buildings

A late-night fire at a St. Paul apartment complex turned into a much bigger problem early Sunday morning, leaving more than a thousand residents temporarily displaced.

Firefighters Return to St. Paul Apartments

According to the St. Paul Fire Department, crews were called to the Skyline Tower around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday to extinguish a small fire. The blaze was put out quickly, but not long after, firefighters were called back when a major electrical failure caused sprinklers to go off on multiple floors.

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The Star Tribune reports that Skyline Tower, Minnesota’s largest subsidized housing complex with 500 units, lost power throughout the entire 24-story building. The outage knocked out elevators, fire alarms, and running water, forcing city officials to declare the structure “uninhabitable.”

Hundreds of Residents Displaced in Minnesota

Roughly 1,500 residents were evacuated, with many now staying in hotels, shelters, or with friends and family as crews work to restore essential systems. City officials say power must be restored before anyone can return, and about 100 units suffered significant water damage from the sprinklers, which will require additional repairs.

Repairs Underway and Safety Checks Planned

According to MNCrime.com, officials will keep Skyline Tower closed until all electrical, fire, and water systems are fully restored and inspected. The hope is that repairs can be expedited, so residents can safely return home as soon as possible.