VIDEO: 3-Alarm Blaze Destroys Saint Paul Building; Cause Under Investigation
Saint Paul firefighters were called to a report of a large commercial fire near the intersection of Selby Ave. & Hamline Ave. N. on Saturday afternoon. Before arriving, Chief 2 requested a second and third alarm response for heavy smoke and fire seen at the structure.
Crews arrived to a large warehouse building located at 1415 Selby Ave. and reported heavy smoke and fire from the entire building. Crews worked to protect nearby exposures from the blaze that burned for hours, sending black smoke into the sky, visible for miles around the metro area.
The building eventually collapsed as crews continued to work to extinguish the fire. One crew reported there was a large pile of tires that would likely continue smoldering for an extended period.
The building is registered to Erickson Family Properties, LLC, a company based out of Orono, Minn.
There were no reports of injuries in the blaze and the cause is still under investigation.
UPDATE: Video cameras around the area captured suspected “arson-related activities,” fire officials told the Pioneer Press. Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5400.
