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Tag: fire departments

  • Minneapolis Explosion Erupts In Apartment Building

    There was a New Year’s tragedy today when an early morning explosion resulted in a fire inside a three-story building containing apartments and a grocery store. There have been at least 14 reported injuries with 6 being in critical condition from the fire located within Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Some of the victims have been transported to Hennepin County Medical Center.

    According to Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel, “Not everybody has been accounted for in this building. It is possible that some are still inside.” Since authorities did not have an official count regarding the number of individuals who were actually inside the building when the fire erupted, there have been additional complications during the search and rescue process to ensure the safety of those involved.

    John Fruetel explained how rescue efforts were hindered by the intensity of the fire. “Upon arrival, crews made entry into the first floor of this structure. Conditions became untenable very quickly, with major fires coming out of the second and third floors. Crews had to back out and go into defensive position outside of the building, applying water.” Fruetel said.

    Present reports have not specified whether additional nearby businesses suffered from the explosion. Palmer’s Bar is located on the same block as the fire, and there is a mosque within the same vicinity though neither have reported damages.

    According to Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert Ball, “It’s not clear whether people were pushed out of the building from the explosion or whether they fell or jumped out of windows to escape.”

    At this time, authorities have not determined the cause of the explosion and fire. The building was last inspected in 2012, and according to a Minneapolis Fire Department release there were no lingering concerns from the inspection.

    Roughly 50 firefighters were involved with the exhaustive rescue efforts. “I know we’ve had a number of trips and falls but no reported injuries (to firefigthers), which is remarkable,” Freutel shared.

    Image Via NDN

  • Ace Frehley’s Home Engulfed in Flames

    The home of famed KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was damaged by fire on Saturday. Frehley left the following message on his personal website regarding the fire that was reported at his 1347 Spring Valley Road home in Yorktown Heights, New York.

    “The official statement from the fire inspector was as follows: An electrical fire was caused by a tree falling on the wires in the backyard and shorting out the fuse box which in turn heated up the internal wiring in the walls and started the fire.

    I’m very thankful that no one was hurt!

    The fire department and police did a great job, and I’m very grateful to them for all of their help and courage in this matter…job well done!” — Ace

    Reports claim that multiple fire companies were contacted around 11 a.m. though fortunately nobody was in the house at the time. According to Yorktown Heights Fire Chief Chet Swirski, “We got to the scene and found heavy smoke showing from the roof line of the building.”

    Frehley does not currently reside in the property; however, a man who has been staying at the house returned as the firefighters were in the process of setting out the fire. Earlier this year, Lenders started the foreclosure process for the home according to Westchester County Court documents.

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    Recent suspicions have been voiced concerning the timing of the fire. In February of this year, the New York Post reported that the famous guitarist stopped making mortgage payments on the house. “The US National Bank Association, which started foreclosure proceedings on Feb. 15, said the makeup-faced ’70s star stopped paying his mortgage in 2011.”

    The website lohud.com reported the following in February: “U.S. Bank National Association claims that the rock star, whose real name is Paul Frehley, stopped paying his $735,000 mortgage on March 1, 2011.”

    The present value of the home is marked at $541,516 though Frehley initially signed a $735,000 mortgage.

    [Images (1) and (2) Via Wikimedia Commons]